The Impact of COVID-19 on Brazilian Judiciary: Reflections on a Justice 4.0 and a 100% Digital Judgment in the Post-pandemic Context

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the impact that the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic had on the organisation and routine of the Judiciary in Brazil, especially with regard to the expansion of the use of technology in judicial activities. It is not forgotten that the start of the Brazilian Judiciary virtualisation dates to the beginning of the 1990s and, even since 2006, there is a law that deals with the electronic judicial process. However, the pandemic period generated intense investment by the judicial Public Administration in the digital fulfilment of electronic procedural acts, such as videoconference hearings, an alternative found as a way to guarantee the continuity of judicial provision during the period of suspension of face-to-face activities (physical). Like that, the article will approach some of the important innovations that the Brazilian Judiciary suffered during the pandemic, with emphasis on the Justice 4.0 and 100% Digital Judgment. The research was developed under theoretical and hypothetical-deductive methods, based on a broad systematic review of the literature, including books and scientific articles, in addition to consultation of normative acts and legislation. In the end, it is concluded that the pandemic left an unquestionable positive legacy for the Judiciary virtualisation in Brazil in a future post-pandemic context. Keywords: Brazilian judiciary; COVID-19 pandemic; Electronic justice; Justice 4.0; 100% Digital Judgment.