Criminal Jury Trials in 2030: A Law Odyssey

Strategic foresight' is a technique used by institutions to prepare for a technology-charged future. It involves considering how the institution might look in the future. In doing so, it enables the institution to prepare for and achieve the preferred future. This article explores what the process of strategic foresight has to offer common law criminal justice systems, with a particular emphasis on the role of expert evidence in criminal jury trials. A hypothetical vision for the future set in 2030, which foresees the adoption of technological advances in the courtroom, is compared and contrasted with processes from a 2012 murder trial. We examine how a well-designed digital courtroom could enhance the delivery of expert evidence. Considering alternative future law scenarios' can illuminate what a legal system is likely to need in times to come and can identify the necessary steps for beneficial adaptation via research, policies, and training.