{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T09:44:00Z","timestamp":1777455840257,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,1]],"date-time":"2023-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1672531200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Big Data &amp; Society"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Should court judgments be publicly available for text and data mining purposes? This article shows that the arguments for and against access to judgments conflate different understandings of what judgments are. On one view, judgments are seen as a \u2018jurisprudential\u2019 category, whereas the other view regards them as something \u2018factual\u2019. Once it is understood that these views and the claims based on them do not fight over the same territory, it should be easier to make judgments more widely available, including for the purposes of computational analysis of judgments as bulk data. The purpose of this article is to help to clear the ground for the debate around access to judgments as bulk data and highlight some relevant considerations for the preferred licencing regime concerning judgments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/20539517231160527","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,5]],"date-time":"2023-03-05T00:37:52Z","timestamp":1677976672000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Judgments as bulk data"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6065-3730","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"V\u00e1clav","family":"Jane\u010dek","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Bristol Law School, University of Bristol, UK"},{"name":"Faculty of Law and St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, UK"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-20539517231160527","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/lst.2021.30"},{"key":"bibr2-20539517231160527","volume-title":"Building a Justice Data Infrastructure: Opportunities and Constraints","author":"Aidinlis S","year":"2020"},{"key":"bibr3-20539517231160527","unstructured":"BAILII (2022) Reproduction and Copyright. Available at: https:\/\/www.bailii.org\/bailii\/copyright.html (https:\/\/perma.cc\/C9GW-X49S)."},{"key":"bibr4-20539517231160527","first-page":"45","volume":"2009","author":"Bryan M","year":"2009","journal-title":"University of Melbourne Collections"},{"issue":"11","key":"bibr5-20539517231160527","first-page":"32","volume":"2012","author":"Bryan M","year":"2012","journal-title":"University of Melbourne Collections"},{"key":"bibr6-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Byrom N (2019) Digital Justice: HMCTS data strategy and delivering access to justice.\n                      The Legal Education Foundation\n                      . Available at: https:\/\/research.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/research-learning\/funded-research\/digital-justice-hmcts-data-strategy-and-delivering-access-to-justice-report-and-recommendations (https:\/\/perma.cc\/A4GD-YWPM)."},{"key":"bibr7-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Cross M (2022) Official court judgments database goes live.\n                      The Law Society Gazette\n                      , 19 April. Available at: https:\/\/www.lawgazette.co.uk\/law\/official-court-judgments-database-goes-live\/5112223.article (https:\/\/perma.cc\/M5J9-28RH)."},{"key":"bibr8-20539517231160527","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11023-008-9113-7"},{"key":"bibr9-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Gisborne J, Patel R, Paskell C, et al. (2022) Justice Data Matters: Building a public mandate for court data use.\n                      The Legal Education Foundation, IPSOS\n                      . Available at: https:\/\/research.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Justice-Data-Matters-Report-Final-pdf (https:\/\/perma.cc\/39PU-UVFV)."},{"key":"bibr10-20539517231160527","unstructured":"HC Justice Committee (2022) Open Justice: Court reporting in the digital age (HC 339). Available at: https:\/\/committees.parliament.uk\/publications\/31426\/documents\/176229\/default\/ (https:\/\/perma.cc\/9Q84-GS6S)."},{"key":"bibr11-20539517231160527","unstructured":"HM Courts & Tribunals Service (2018) The HMCTS reform programme. Available at: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/the-hmcts-reform-programme (accessed 18 August 2022)."},{"key":"bibr12-20539517231160527","unstructured":"HM Courts & Tribunals Service (2022) Apply for a transcript of a court or tribunal hearing. Available at: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/apply-transcript-court-tribunal-hearing (accessed 18 August 2022)."},{"key":"bibr13-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Hoadley D (2018) Part 2: Open access to English Case Law (The gaps).\n                      Carrefax\n                      , 10 May. Available at: http:\/\/carrefax.com\/articles-blog\/2018\/5\/9\/part-2-open-access-to-english-case-law-knackered-plumbing (https:\/\/perma.cc\/X8EV-A9RS)."},{"key":"bibr14-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Hoadley D (2022) Data Bites #32: Getting things done with data in government.\n                      The Institute for Government\n                      , 20 July. Available at: https:\/\/youtu.be\/ToaKXgMe1kw?t=3234."},{"key":"bibr15-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Hoadley D, Tomlinson J, Nemsic E, et al. (2021) How public is public law? Approximately 55%.\n                      UK Constitutional Law Association\n                      , 25 February. Available at: https:\/\/ukconstitutionallaw.org\/2022\/02\/25\/daniel-hoadley-joe-tomlinson-editha-nemsic-and-cassandra-somers-joce-how-public-is-public-law-approximately-55\/ (https:\/\/perma.cc\/L75J-N7FV)."},{"key":"bibr16-20539517231160527","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1468-2230.12570"},{"key":"bibr17-20539517231160527","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clsr.2020.105519"},{"key":"bibr18-20539517231160527","author":"Leith P","year":"2009","journal-title":"International Journal of Law and Information Technology"},{"key":"bibr19-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Magrath P, Beresford G (2023) Publication of listed judgments: Towards a new benchmark of digital open justice.\n                      The Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales\n                      . Available at: https:\/\/www.iclr.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/\/2023\/01\/Publication-of-listed-judgments-final.pdf (https:\/\/perma.cc\/P3Q4-HUJ2)."},{"key":"#cr-split#-bibr20-20539517231160527.1","unstructured":"McCloud V (2021) Barclays Bank UK Public Ltd Co v London Plastic Surgeons Ltd [2021] EWHC 3698"},{"key":"#cr-split#-bibr20-20539517231160527.2","unstructured":"(QB) (17 December 2021). Available at: https:\/\/www.bailii.org\/cgi-bin\/format.cgi?doc=\/ew\/cases\/EWHC\/QB\/2021\/3698.html (https:\/\/perma.cc\/LC37-FMGS)."},{"key":"bibr21-20539517231160527","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10506-021-09306-3"},{"key":"bibr22-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Ministry of Justice (2020) Ministry of Justice: Data First. Available at: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/ministry-of-justice-data-first (accessed 18 August 2022)."},{"key":"bibr23-20539517231160527","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S2071832200022392"},{"key":"bibr24-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Mitee LE (2019) The human right of free access to public legal information: Proposals for its universal recognition and for adequate public access. PhD Thesis, Tilburg University, NL. Available at: https:\/\/pure.uvt.nl\/ws\/portalfiles\/portal\/46190488\/Mitee_The_Human_20_12_2019.pdf (https:\/\/perma.cc\/9BMM-L6HY)."},{"key":"bibr25-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Rozenberg J (2020) Problems foreseen? In: The Online Court: Will IT work?\n                      The Legal Education Foundation\n                      . Available at: https:\/\/long-reads.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/problems-foreseen\/ (https:\/\/perma.cc\/5J5T-7V8S)."},{"key":"bibr26-20539517231160527","first-page":"1157","volume":"75","author":"Shapiro S","year":"2006","journal-title":"Fordham Law Review"},{"key":"bibr27-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Shubber K (2022) Let in the light to the murky reaches of the English legal system.\n                      Financial Times\n                      , 11 April. Available at: https:\/\/on.ft.com\/3b0Vdgd (https:\/\/perma.cc\/AH5Y-PP75)."},{"key":"bibr28-20539517231160527","unstructured":"The National Archives (2022a) What to expect from this new service - Find case law. Available at: https:\/\/caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/what-to-expect (https:\/\/perma.cc\/MJW4-ACHX)."},{"key":"bibr29-20539517231160527","unstructured":"The National Archives (2022b) Open Justice Licence - Find case law. Available at: https:\/\/caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/open-justice-licence (https:\/\/perma.cc\/ZB8Y-JSZN)."},{"key":"bibr30-20539517231160527","unstructured":"The National Archives (2022c) Terms of use - Find case law. Available at: https:\/\/caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/terms-of-use (https:\/\/perma.cc\/3HLJ-S92B)."},{"key":"bibr31-20539517231160527","unstructured":"UK Government (2022) Open Government Licence.\n                      The National Archives\n                      . Available at: http:\/\/nationalarchives.gov.uk\/doc\/open-government-licence\/version\/3\/ (https:\/\/perma.cc\/6LT8-55Z2)."},{"key":"bibr32-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Vos G, Davies N, Dingemans LJ (2022)\n                      The Counsel General for Wales, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy\n                      [2022] EWCA Civ 181 (16 February 2022). Available at: https:\/\/www.bailii.org\/ew\/cases\/EWCA\/Civ\/2022\/181.html (https:\/\/perma.cc\/99PB-VVQU)."},{"key":"bibr33-20539517231160527","unstructured":"Walker S (2022) Justice data is already monetised.\n                      The Law Society Gazette\n                      , 22 July. Available at: https:\/\/www.lawgazette.co.uk\/commentary-and-opinion\/justice-data-is-already-monetised\/5113205.article (https:\/\/perma.cc\/4VCT-WGL3)."}],"container-title":["Big Data &amp; Society"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/20539517231160527","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/20539517231160527","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/20539517231160527","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T13:00:21Z","timestamp":1777381221000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/20539517231160527"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/20539517231160527"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/20539517231160527","relation":{},"ISSN":["2053-9517","2053-9517"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2053-9517","type":"print"},{"value":"2053-9517","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]},"article-number":"20539517231160527"}}