COURT OFFICER AS AN INTERFACE BETWEEN SOCIETY AND THE JUDICIARY: FROM COMMUNICATOR TO FACILITATOR OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Abstract

 This WORK aims to reflect on the importance of the court officer as a link between society and the digital judiciary, functioning as an instrument of cooperation and expansion of access to justice, as provided for in Article 5, item XXXV of the 1988 Federal Constitution, in compliance with Article 154, item VI of the Code of Civil Procedure. This provision is viewed as an additional mechanism to facilitate and even promote self-settlement between the parties, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of judicial services, in line with the principles governing access to justice, particularly procedural economy, celerity, cooperation, and procedural flexibility. The methodology adopted for this study was based on bibliographic research, using theoretical references such as books, scientific articles, monographs, dissertations, the event promoted by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) entitled “Democratizing Access to Justice,” the webinar held in honor of Court Officers’ Day, titled “Court Officers as a Link between Society and the Judiciary,” and the case law of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), Special Appeal No. 1,803,491/MT. Given that the court officer serves as a link between society and the Judiciary, acting as a facilitator of access to justice, this role has evolved due to transformations in its functions, adopting a new profile—from a mere communicator to a facilitator of access to justice, guided by a rationale oriented toward sensitivity. Thus, for access to justice to continuously evolve, an educational process must be fostered between society and the constituted powers. In this context, the court officer emerges as both a facilitator and a potential conciliator between citizens and the Judiciary. The research was grounded in the works of Mauro Cappelletti and Bryant Garth, as well as the collective work “Access to Justice in the Age of Technology.” In addition to the literature review, field research was conducted through the application of a questionnaire to court officers in the hinterland region of Pernambuco. The aim was to understand how these professionals perceive their role within this technological context and how they continue to be essential to the judicial system, acting as a bridge between society and justice. In particular, their role as facilitators of access to justice for individuals in situations of social and digital vulnerability was assessed.To achieve these objectives, a qualitative method was employed, based on the analysis of data collected through questionnaires administered via an electronic form to a sample of court officers selected by region (Sertão of Pernambuco).