Response to the Consultation on the Transparency and Open Justice Board’s Proposed Key Objectives

Abstract

This response, submitted by Dr. François Nel, addresses the Transparency and Open Justice Board’s proposed Key Objectives, advocating for a stronger role for students, educators, and academic institutions in fostering legal literacy, public-interest journalism, and civic engagement.

The submission highlights four key areas:

Open Courts – Calls for structured access for students and educators to observe proceedings, ensuring future journalists and legal professionals can engage meaningfully with the justice system.
Open Reporting – Advocates for clearer pathways for emerging journalists and student reporters to cover courts responsibly, with practical guidance on legal and ethical considerations.
Open Decisions – Recommends making judicial decisions more accessible for educational and research purposes, including user-friendly case summaries for non-specialist audiences.
Open Documents – Proposes equitable access to key legal materials for learning and research, including potential educational exemptions or reduced-cost models for institutions.
The response argues that justice cannot be truly open unless it is accessible for learning, urging the Board to embed education into its transparency agenda. The News Futures Forum, co-led by Dr. Nel, stands ready to collaborate on practical mechanisms to integrate education, research, and civic learning into open justice initiatives.