Remote justice: a visual essay on the response of the Dutch justice system to the COVID-19 pandemic

The measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 significantly impacted (criminal) justice sectors worldwide, including system in Netherlands. administration could no longer take place physical court meetings. Many cases not be processed. Behind scenes, people worked hard scale up technological infrastructure needed and make buildings COVID-proof. Necessary (emergency) legislation was created consultation with stakeholders. Dutch judiciary speeded implementation use videoconferencing, criminal courts.Over time, lawyers reporters became critical (social) media. They pointed problems respect organisation, technology, communication, legal principles. principle a fair trial, more specifically equality arms, risked being violated. Equality arms means that public prosecutor defence must have equal opportunities convince court. These differ by (modality) which person is present. us experienced how different on-screen communication from in-person contact, affecting what who can seen heard. This also case for are digitally or physically present court, either as professional (e.g. lawyer prosecutor) citizen suspect victim).Other fundamental rights were affected well. time slots organised prisons, allow suspects their participate prison problematic. Another challenge safeguard nature judiciary, access courts. visual essay describes response pandemic over incorporates images several practices seeing, looking, showing. According organisations, actors, professionals working trial screen here stay.