(Sept. 8, 2015) On August 25, 2015, the Swedish Supreme Court announced that as of August 31, 2015, it has turned to e-mail as its main means of communication. (Press Release, Ökad användning av e-post vid Högsta domstolen, Högsta Domstolen [Supreme Court] website (Aug. 25, 2015), NOTISUM.) The new policy means that all communication between counsel and the Supreme Court concerning ongoing cases now will be carried out via e-mail. The Court will also dispatch judgments and decisions via e-mail. (Id.)
Most documents filed with the Court can now also be filed electronically without a hard copy being filed. (Id.) However, certain communications that by law are required to be signed, such as petitions for a new trial, must still be filed in paper format. (RÄTTEGÅNGSBALKEN [Code of Judicial Procedure] (SFS 1942:740), ch. 58: 5 §.)
Some commentators on law news forums expressed concern about electronic hacking of Court communications following the announcement, but other commentators have dismissed those fears, arguing that most communication from the Court is public, and therefore hacking constitutes less of a threat. (Högsta domstolen överger posten – ska kommunicera helt via e-post, DAGENS JURIDIK (Aug. 26, 2015) [scroll down to Comments].)