Case tracking and management, simplified

The Court of Appeal is the highest court in the Province of BC. It hears appeals from the Supreme and Provincial Courts and reviews and appeals from some administrative boards and tribunals.

For the 20 years between 1984 and 2004, the DOS-based Court of Appeal Tracking System (CATS) managed the Court’s case data. By the early part of the 2000’s, CATS was no longer meeting the needs of the Court of Appeal and it was determined the Court required a new system that would improve the accuracy of data being tracked, integrate with systems from other courts, and provide a foundation for the next generation of enhancements and case tracking functionality.

OpenRoad developed a web-based system allowing for tracking of cases and the scheduling of hearings called WebCATS. Built on Microsoft .NET technology and featuring an easy-to use interface, WebCATS featured case tracking, scheduling, and an interface into the Courts Digital Audio Recording System (DARS). OpenRoad designed and developed WebCATS alongside Court of Appeal staff, gathering requirements and involving the end users of the system in all major design processes. During the development phase of the project, OpenRoad provided tools for migrating and validating the old CATS system data in preparation for the launch of WebCATS.

WebCATS is a powerful system that required minimal training for users due to its ease of use. The system has proven to be easily integrated into external systems through web-services, providing data to the general public, legal community, and media through the Ministry of Attorney General’s Court Services Online system. It is another example of BC’s leadership in legal and judicial information technology innovation and continues to help manage and run the courts today.