Zambia's Trailblazing Judge Cautions on Tech-Induced Inequality
In a poignant address before the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, Justice Abha Nayar Patel, Zambia's first female judge of Indian descent, underscored a growing concern: the risk of technology entrenching inequality rather than alleviating it. Her remarks come at a time when Zambia and many other nations are increasingly digitising their judicial processes, a transition spurred initially by the exigencies of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice Patel, who took her seat on Zambia's highest court just last year, has become a voice of both progress and caution. 'Innovation should not be a double-edged sword that cuts deeper into the divide of justice,' she declared, highlighting the delicate balance between technological advancement and the core principles of fairness and accessibility.
Zambia is steadily advancing towards the digitisation of court records and virtual testimonies—steps that have been necessitated by past pandemics but are now seen as permanent fixtures in the judicial landscape. However, Justice Patel warns that without careful oversight, these innovations might merely digitise existing disparities rather than dismantle them.
Her call to arms is not merely theoretical. Justice Patel, who graduated with honours from the University of Zambia in 1987, has seen firsthand how the legal system can both empower and disenfranchise. 'Every innovation,' she asserted, 'must pass the twin tests of improving fairness and access to justice.' Her words echo the broader concerns many legal experts share: that technology, while offering substantial benefits, must be harnessed with integrity and inclusivity in mind.
Her elevation to the Supreme Court is itself a testament to progress in gender and racial equality. Yet, as she rightly points out, the journey is far from over. 'In our pursuit of a more just society, we cannot allow technology to become a tool of exclusion,' she concluded, leaving her audience with much to ponder. Her message is clear: the future of justice must be as equitable as it is efficient, ensuring that innovation serves every citizen equally.
