Public Law Studies Quarterly

An Examination of Freedom of Information and Open Judicial Data in ‎the Course of Litigation

Document Type : Article

Authors

Hoda Ghaffari 1
Roohollah Taherifard 2

1 Associate Prof. Department of Public Law. Faculty of Law and Political Sciences. University of ‎Allamah Tabatabaei. Tehran. Iran‎

2 Ph.D. student in Private Law. Faculty of Law and Political Sciences. University of Allamah ‎Tabatabaei. Tehran. Iran‎

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2024.360311.3327
Abstract
The judiciary has a unique capacity to deliver justice, combat corruption, and safeguard the legitimate freedoms. To realize this capacity, the judiciary must be efficient and sound. Protecting this institution can only be achieved through public oversight, as any form of non-public oversight can be skewed in favor of powerful groups. Freedom of information, which is essential for public oversight, obligates the judiciary and its subordinate institutions to publish judicial information. Judicial information refers to any information produced within the judiciary and its subordinate institutions, which must be published without delay based on the principle of freedom of information. Due to the possibility of errors in analysis, open data has been introduced alongside freedom of information, which undoubtedly has a positive impact on public oversight. This paper examines freedom of information in the judicial process and the nature of judicial open data. The findings of this study indicate that the Decree on Comprehensive Information Dissemination System of the Judiciary, the Constitution, and statutes  pertaining to the public nature of court proceedings and the publication of rulings have not succeeded in transforming the judiciary into an accountable institution.

Keywords

freedom of information
‎judicial information
open ‎court
judicial open data
‎releasing of verdicts.‎
Subjects

  1. English

    1. Books
    2. Charalabidis, Y and others. (2018). The World of Open Data: Concepts, Methods, Tools and Experiences. New York City: Springer International Publishing AG.
    3. Kaufman, C. (2020).Challenging Power: Democracy and Accountability in A Fractured World, London: Bloomsbury Academic.
    4. Kierkegard, S.(2009).Open Access to Public Documents – More Secrecy Less Transparency. Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd.
    5. Lazarski, C. (2012). Power Tends to Corrupt: Lord Action’s Study of Liberty. Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press.
    6. Kitchin, R. (2014). The Data Revolution: Big data, Open data, Data infrastructures and their consequences. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
    7. Herrero, A., & Lopez, G. (2010). Access to Information and Transparency in the Judiciary: A Guide to Good Practices from Latin America.Argentina" Asociacion por los Derechos Civiles (ADC). available at: adc.org.ar.
    8. Reiling, D. (2009). The Technology for Justice. Amsterdam: Leiden University Press.

     

    1. B) Articels
    2. Markovic, M., & Gostojic,S. (2018). Open Judical Data: A Comparative Analysis. SAGE, 1 – 20.
    3. Bellinger, G., Durval, C., & Anthony, M. (2004). Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom, P1. available at: http://23055000.ir:98/sysworkflow/fa/modern/cases/cases_ Step?TYPE=DYNAFORM&UID=7090259065e138880335353068965652&POSITION=1&ACTION=EDIT.
    4. Bodnar, E. (2016). Transparency and Openness of Courts in the 21st Century. An Issue Worth Researching on. Ecuador. Luris Distio, 153- 164.
    5. Griffith, G.(1998). Judicial Accountability. NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service. 1-73.

     

    References In Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Esmaili, M. (2021). Freedom of information in Iran. Tehran: Art, culture and communication research institute (In Persian).
    3. Ansari, B. (2008). Freedom of information. Tehran: Dadgostar publication (In Persian).
    4. Ansari, B. (2018). Right to access to information. Tehran: Office of media studies and planning (In Persian).
    5. Ansari, B. (2011). Privacy law. Tehran: Organization of study and editing of human science books of universities. (in Persian)
    6. Porostad, M. (2008). Principles and rules of transnational civil procedure. Tehran: Shahre Danesh legal studies and research institution. (in Persian)
    7. Khaleghi, A. (2018). Criminal procedure. Tehran: Shahre Danesh legal studies and research institution (In Persian).
    8. Khaleghi, A. (2018). Points in criminal procedure. Tehran: Shahre Danesh legal studies and research institution (In Persian).
    9. Khodabakhshi, A. (2011). Jurisprudential foundations of civil procedure and its impact on judicial procedure, Tehran: stock company publication (In Persian).
    10. Razi, A. (2004). Nahj al balaghe. translated by Mohammad Dashti, Qom: Osve publication (In Persian).
    11. Ranjbar, F. (2018). Freedom of information in the light of constitutional rights and Imami jurisprudence. Tehran: Qanon Yar publication (In Persian).
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    14. Mohseni, H. (2003). Administering civil proceedings based on cooperation and withing the framework of procedural principles. Tehran: stock company publication (In Persian).
    15. Hashemi, M. (2002). Constitutional rights of Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Mizan.
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    1. B) Articles
    2. Ahmadi, S. (2016). The analysis on the concept of the right to the public supervision over power based on the two relations of right-claim and right-freedom. Quarterly Journal of Public Law Studies, (3), 703-723 (In Persian).
    3. Esmaili, M. (2012). Basics and examples of freedom of communication and information in Islamic law and thought. Journal of Media, (90), 45-60 (In Persian).
    4. Jalali, M and Ajir, Z. (2014). Free media components in the light of economic practice. Journal of Legal Research, (69), 107-140 (In Persian).
    5. Javan Arasteh, H. (2012). Public and mutual supervision in the Islamic system (analysis of the eighth principle of the constitution. Quarterly Journal of Islamic Revolution Studies, (34), 129-144 (In Persian).
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    7. Seyedzadeh Sani, M., & Kermani, S. (2021). Freedom of speech versus fair trial: the effect on media representation of crime on violation of proceedings. Journal of Jurisprudence and civilization history, (1), 15-25 (In Persian).
    8. Safae, H., & Jafari, A. (2011). The relationship between freedom of information and privacy. Journal of Islamic Law, (33), 135-159 (In Persian).
    9. Ghomashi, S., & Ahmadi, A. (2017). The foundations of populism in criminal proceedings, Journal of Treaty Legal Research, (4), 11-50 (In Persian).
    10. Molai, M. (1986). The theory of absolute freedom of information (the issue of live television broadcasting by satellite in public international law, Journal of Media, (26), 18-29 (In Persian).
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    12. Hashemi, M., & Mirghasemi, J. (2011). The rule of law in the thought of the great philosophers of the West, Journal of Legal Research, (9), 196-210 (In Persian).
    13. Yavari, A., & Tangestani, M. (2015). The system of Accountability of the judicial branch and its relationship with the independence of this branch. Journal of legal justice, (95), 151-180 (In Persian).

     

    1. C) Thesis
    2. Hosseini, V. (2012). Free access to information: a comparative study of the legal systems of Iran and the European Union, PhD thesis, instructor: Hashemi, M, University of Shahid Beheshti (In Persian).
    3. Jannesari, M. (2013). Limits of media freedom in judicial affairs, Master thesis, instructor: Mohammadi, G, University of Allamah Tabatabaei (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 55, Issue 2 - Serial Number 42
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Pages 1005-1034

  • Receive Date 17 July 2023
  • Revise Date 11 December 2023
  • Accept Date 06 May 2024

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