A Novel Judicial Governance Model for Sustainable Development: From Sustainable to Smart, Impartial, and Inclusive Justice
Subject Areas : Judical GovernanceNima Norouzi 1 * , Seyyed Samsameddin Qavami 2
1 - Department of Jurisprudence and Law, Faculty of Sciences and Knowledge, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom Seminary, Qom, Iran
2 - Director of the Islamic Management Jurisprudence Foundation and External Lecturer, Qom Seminary, Qom, Iran
Keywords: Sustainable Justice, Smart Justice, Impartial Justice, Inclusive Justice, Judicial Governance, Sustainable Development Goals,
Abstract :
This paper explores the design and implementation of a novel judicial governance model aligned with the principles and objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Traditional judicial systems, often limited to resolving disputes and enforcing existing laws, face increasing challenges in addressing contemporary issues such as environmental sustainability, social inequality, and technological transformation. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a comprehensive framework built upon four core pillars: sustainable justice, smart justice, impartial justice, and inclusive justice. Sustainable justice emphasizes intergenerational fairness and the preservation of livelihoods and natural resources, ensuring that judicial decisions contribute to long-term stability. Smart justice leverages digital technologies, including online courts, big data, and artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. Impartial justice guarantees equality before the law, free from discrimination or external influence, while inclusive justice focuses on providing fair access to legal services for marginalized and vulnerable groups. The findings suggest that integrating these four pillars can transform the judiciary from a reactive legal body into a proactive institution of governance, capable of promoting justice, equity, and sustainable societal development. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for adopting this model in national contexts, highlighting the importance of political will, institutional reform, and international cooperation in advancing judicial sustainability.
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Pirlot, Alice. (2019). A legal analysis of the mutual interactions between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and taxation. World Tax Journal, 11(3), 341–371. IBFD. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3467544
Preston, Brian J. (2024). The judicial development of ecologically sustainable development. In Klaus Bosselmann & Prue Taylor (Eds.), Sustainable development and the law: Principles and practice (pp. 87–104). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802201427.00012
Puthucherril, Tony George. (2015). Sustainable development: Towards a judicial interpretation. Lucknow, India: Eastern Book Company. ISBN: 9789351452849
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, A/RES/70/1. New York: United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
References
Abashidze, Aslan Khuseinovich, & Garaev, Marat Il’yasovich. (2022). The international value of judicial practice of the International Court of Justice in the context of achieving global Sustainable Development Goals: The case of international border delimitation disputes. In Global Issues and New Ideas in Social Sciences: Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Issues and New Ideas in Social Sciences (ICGIS 2021) (pp. 431–450). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9808-8_26
Ao Ieong, Man Chon. (2024). Exploring new judicial models under the Sustainable Development Goals. SHS Web of Conferences, 200(02036), 1–6. EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202420002036
Barral, Virginie. (2012). Sustainable development in international law: Nature and operation of an evolutive legal norm. European Journal of International Law, 23(2), 377–400. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chs016
Chowdhury, Nandini. (2016). Sustainable development as environmental justice: Exploring judicial discourse in India. Asian Journal of Law and Society, 3(2), 321–344. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/als.2016.14
Dreyfus, Michel. (2013). The judiciary’s role in environmental governance: The case of Delhi. Environmental Policy and Law, 43(3), 211–220. IOS Press. https://doi.org/10.3233/EPL-13001
Kong, Huan, Zhang, Yu, Zhang, Yichen, & Liu, Min. (2024). Exploring integrated ocean management policy in China: Evolution, challenges, and prospects. Marine Policy, 155, 106765. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.106765
Kudeikina, Inga, & Kaija, Sabine. (2022). Problems relating to judicial selection in the context of sustainable development of society. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 11(4), 115–124. European Center of Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.14207/ejsd.2022.v11n4p115
Pirlot, Alice. (2019). A legal analysis of the mutual interactions between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and taxation. World Tax Journal, 11(3), 341–371. IBFD. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3467544
Preston, Brian J. (2024). The judicial development of ecologically sustainable development. In Klaus Bosselmann & Prue Taylor (Eds.), Sustainable development and the law: Principles and practice (pp. 87–104). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802201427.00012
Puthucherril, Tony George. (2015). Sustainable development: Towards a judicial interpretation. Lucknow, India: Eastern Book Company. ISBN: 9789351452849
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, A/RES/70/1. New York: United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda