The e-Justice system, once hailed as a transformative digital justice solution for Cyprus's courts, has officially been terminated. Following the cancellation of the contract with the contractor on October 2, 2024, Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation Nikodimos Damianou instructed the initiation of a tender process to upgrade the existing i-Justice system, which has been operational since February 1, 2022. Under i-Justice, all new cases are filed electronically, with no paper-based filings permitted.

As Offsite reports, the government will follow all procurement procedures to ensure the most cost-effective solution, with the upgraded i-Justice system being awarded to the highest bidder.

>>The End of Another Failed Project: Official Termination of the e-Justice Contract<<

According to the Deputy Ministry of Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the Cyprus Bar Association and the Supreme Court—both key users of the system—it was decided that upgrading the i-Justice platform is the best path forward. A preliminary technical evaluation further supported this decision, affirming that an upgraded system would better meet the needs of the justice sector. A relevant tender will soon be announced.

The e-Justice project had a total budget of €6.2 million, including an initial contract of €5.8 million and an additional €400,000 for approved modifications. By January 2024, when the system collapsed, payments totaling €1.25 million had been made.

The e-Justice platform failed in mid-January 2024, shortly after its implementation. In response, the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy gave the project a "second chance" by involving its users, namely the Cyprus Bar Association and the Judicial Services, in efforts to resolve the issues. Despite their initial reluctance, both parties participated as members of the project’s advisory council.

In collaboration with the contractor, issues causing the system's failure were identified. The contractor reported that these problems had been resolved, and preliminary user tests were conducted between late July and early August 2024 to verify the system’s readiness and its support for automation services. However, the test results were unsatisfactory, leading to the contract's termination.