<p>The majority of Open Government Data (OGD) initiatives around the world have focussed on the executive branches of government, exploring financial, infrastructure and administrative datasets. A smaller number have looked at legislative open data. However, open data in the judicial branch has gone relatively unexplored. In this study, CIPPEC explore the the openness of judiciary branch data and it’s impact through a comparative study across three Latin American countries. The study used a layered mixed-method exploratory design, triangulating findings from a technical assessment of data judiciary websites, interviews with key informants and field-work. The study worked through descriptive, diagnostic, analytical and prospective phases, in order to generate robust policy-relevant recommendations.</p>
<p>The design and implementation of an open data policy is fundamental for the judiciary branches for at least three reasons: (i) Access to information is a human right, recognized by Constitutions, international treatise and laws, as well as by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Human rights, and open data is useful tool for the publication of information; (ii) access to data allows citizens to monitor the judiciary branch and encourages accountability by the judiciary; and (iii) from the point of view of the performance of the judiciary and policy design, the generation, compilation and availability of data in a format that can be used and re-used enables decisions to be taken to improve the design of public policies for the judiciary based on evidence. However, in Latin America the judicial branch appears to have been the least willing part of government to adopt open data practices.</p>
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