A computer at an Internet cafe. Some court cases will soon be heard online in Australia, with judges receiving lawyers' arguments by email, a state minister said Sunday.

Some court cases will soon be heard online in Australia, with judges receiving lawyers' arguments by email, a state minister said Sunday.

The system, known as JusticeLink, is to be rolled out in courts across Australia's largest state over the next 12 months, New South Wales state Attorney General John Hatzistergos said.

Prosecutors and defence lawyers will log in to a bulletin board and type their arguments, which would then be sent to the judge by email. The judge would make orders in real time.

"While the time-honoured traditions of our legal system will remain intact, JusticeLink will streamline the process, saving millions of dollars in costs and countless hours spent in the courtroom," Hatzistergos said.

"JusticeLink is the first multi-jurisdictional court computer system in the world."

The cost of the scheme is put at 48 million dollars (43.3 million US).

Nine firms have tested the system on a trial basis and the state Supreme Court has used it, already holding 167 hearings on civil matters online.

The system will be rolled out on February 11 in the New South Wales District Court, which governs courts across the state, and is expected to be in operation in every criminal and civil court in the state by next year.

The system will not be used for committal proceedings and trials, which will still be conducted in person, but for more preliminary procedural hearings, including such matters as bail applications.

© 2008 AFP