TRANSFORMING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN THE DIGITAL ERA: OPPORTUNITIES, STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES, AND A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELECTRONIC JUSTICE

Abstract

Access to justice is a fundamental principle of the rule of law, ensuring effective legal protection for all citizens. While digital transformation offers new pathways to modernize the judiciary, it simultaneously introduces challenges regarding digital divides and data security, particularly for vulnerable groups.This study analyzes the evolution of access to justice in the digital era, focusing on the structural, economic, and technological factors influencing judicial efficacy, and evaluates global legal innovations that foster inclusiveness. This study employs a normative legal research method with a literature review approach. Utilizing conceptual and comparative approaches, it examines national and international regulations, policy documents, and academic literature regarding judicial digitalization across various jurisdictions. The findings indicate that digital justice integration, such as e-courts and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) implemented in Indonesia, the UK, Australia, and Singapore, significantly enhances efficiency and reduces administrative costs. However, infrastructure disparities, low digital literacy among marginalized communities, and cybersecurity threats remain major obstacles. Modernizing the judiciary does not automatically guarantee equitable access without robust data protection laws and inclusive infrastructure. Digitalization minimizes geographic barriers, but demands comprehensive synergy between regulatory reform, public-oriented technology development, and enhanced legal literacy to achieve truly inclusive and sustainable access to justice