England: Judges to test AI assistants in bid to speed up Crown Court cases

The Ministry of Justice will trial the use of AI to analyse case material, conduct legal research and identify cases that are ready for trial. Officials say the tools will operate as digital paralegals, helping with tasks such as summarising documents, researching legal precedents and managing case files.

Ministers believe the technology could save thousands of hours of preparation time and help tackle the backlog of cases awaiting trial.

The Ministry of Justice said the systems would be tested in “highly controlled” environments before any wider rollout and stressed that AI would play no role in judicial decision-making.

However, the move is likely to prompt concerns about AI-generated errors and fears that technology could be used as a substitute for investment in the courts system.

Andrew Thomas, vice-chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said: “As all lawyers know, the devil is always in the details, and AI tools should not be used without checks and balances […] No one is suggesting that justice can be dispensed by a computer.

“What the criminal justice system requires is clear guidance on the safe use of new technologies as an aid to the work of judges and properly qualified and experienced lawyers, not as a substitute for it.”