Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine
The paper explores the integration of virtual reality (VR) technologies into judicial proceedings. The study begins with an analysis of the use cases of VR in the judicial processes in Germany and other countries where there are known cases of using VR tools for such purposes as crime scene reprodu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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State Higher Educational Establishment «Uzhhorod National University».
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Науковий вісник Ужгородського національного університету. Серія Право |
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| Online Access: | http://visnyk-pravo.uzhnu.edu.ua/article/view/337004 |
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| _version_ | 1849236079827222528 |
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| author | S. Heetkamp D. Bohatchuk |
| author_facet | S. Heetkamp D. Bohatchuk |
| author_sort | S. Heetkamp |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The paper explores the integration of virtual reality (VR) technologies into judicial proceedings. The study begins with an analysis of the use cases of VR in the judicial processes in Germany and other countries where there are known cases of using VR tools for such purposes as crime scene reproduction and evidence representation.
The mentioned use cases of the implementation of VR in court proceedings include, in particular, the employment of VR for the reconstruction of the crime scene of the murder of two police officers in Kusel, the trial against former guard at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp Reinhold Hanning, a fatal speeding accident investigation in Wiesbaden (criminal cases in Germany), and the U.S. civil case Stephenson v. Honda Motors Ltd. of America. Additionally, the paper considers some ongoing pilot projects and initiatives that use VR in the legal field, particularly for courtroom simulations, legal education and professional training.
The paper then analyzes the current status and potential for implementing VR within the judicial system of Ukraine. The research explores the views of Ukrainian legal scholars who have studied the perspectives of VR.
Finally, the research outlines the key advantages and challenges associated with integrating VR into judicial proceedings. While VR offers significant advantages, it also raises complex legal and ethical challenges. Judges must be prepared to adjudicate disputes and address complex legal issues arising from the use of VR technologies, which simultaneously requires the adoption of appropriate legal regulations that can be interpreted and enforced by the courts.
The paper concludes that the effective integration of VR into court proceedings should be supported by dedicated legal frameworks that define the legal status of VR, regulate the admissibility and procedural status of VR-based evidence, and address data protection and other concerns related to the use of VR in court proceedings.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6197e6139a024d429e7bbb3d70013d14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2307-3322 2664-6153 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | State Higher Educational Establishment «Uzhhorod National University». |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Науковий вісник Ужгородського національного університету. Серія Право |
| spelling | doaj-art-6197e6139a024d429e7bbb3d70013d142025-08-20T04:02:28ZengState Higher Educational Establishment «Uzhhorod National University».Науковий вісник Ужгородського національного університету. Серія Право2307-33222664-61532025-08-0148910.24144/2307-3322.2025.89.4.1Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and UkraineS. Heetkamp0D. Bohatchuk1LL.M., Professor of TH Köln – University of Applied SciencesPhD in Law (Candidate of Science of Law), Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Law of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” The paper explores the integration of virtual reality (VR) technologies into judicial proceedings. The study begins with an analysis of the use cases of VR in the judicial processes in Germany and other countries where there are known cases of using VR tools for such purposes as crime scene reproduction and evidence representation. The mentioned use cases of the implementation of VR in court proceedings include, in particular, the employment of VR for the reconstruction of the crime scene of the murder of two police officers in Kusel, the trial against former guard at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp Reinhold Hanning, a fatal speeding accident investigation in Wiesbaden (criminal cases in Germany), and the U.S. civil case Stephenson v. Honda Motors Ltd. of America. Additionally, the paper considers some ongoing pilot projects and initiatives that use VR in the legal field, particularly for courtroom simulations, legal education and professional training. The paper then analyzes the current status and potential for implementing VR within the judicial system of Ukraine. The research explores the views of Ukrainian legal scholars who have studied the perspectives of VR. Finally, the research outlines the key advantages and challenges associated with integrating VR into judicial proceedings. While VR offers significant advantages, it also raises complex legal and ethical challenges. Judges must be prepared to adjudicate disputes and address complex legal issues arising from the use of VR technologies, which simultaneously requires the adoption of appropriate legal regulations that can be interpreted and enforced by the courts. The paper concludes that the effective integration of VR into court proceedings should be supported by dedicated legal frameworks that define the legal status of VR, regulate the admissibility and procedural status of VR-based evidence, and address data protection and other concerns related to the use of VR in court proceedings. http://visnyk-pravo.uzhnu.edu.ua/article/view/337004virtual realitycourtjusticetechnologies |
| spellingShingle | S. Heetkamp D. Bohatchuk Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine Науковий вісник Ужгородського національного університету. Серія Право virtual reality court justice technologies |
| title | Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine |
| title_full | Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine |
| title_fullStr | Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine |
| title_short | Virtual reality in judicial proceedings: a view from Germany and Ukraine |
| title_sort | virtual reality in judicial proceedings a view from germany and ukraine |
| topic | virtual reality court justice technologies |
| url | http://visnyk-pravo.uzhnu.edu.ua/article/view/337004 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sheetkamp virtualrealityinjudicialproceedingsaviewfromgermanyandukraine AT dbohatchuk virtualrealityinjudicialproceedingsaviewfromgermanyandukraine |