Digital Justice and the Council of Europe’s Guidelines on Online Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Civil and Administrative Court Proceedings

Online courts and tribunals have been operating for a number of years, but its growth was particularly acute in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic,2 which expediated the implementation of remote means of communication, especially for civil and administrative proceedings. This situation prompted the Council of Europe, which represents 46 member states (after the 2022 expulsion of the Russian Federation) and ensures the application of its European Convention of Human Rights via its European Court of Human Rights, to develop guidelines for the use of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in national courts. This article discusses the Council of Europe’s Guidelines on ODR mechanisms in civil and administrative court proceedings.