Artificial Intelligence in the Courts

Introduction 

 Artificial Intelligence (Al) seems to be catching the attention of a large section of people, because of the possibilities it offers.

Al and Machine Learning (ML) have a multiplier effect on increasing the efficiency of any system or industry.

If used effectively, it can bring about incremental changes and transform the ecosystem of several sectors.

However, before applying such technology, it is important to identify the problems and the challenges and develop the modalities on how the Al architecture will have the highest impact.

Al in justice delivery system

In the justice delivery system, there are multiple spaces where the Al application can have a deep impact.

It has the capacity to reduce the pendency and incrementally increase the processes.

The recent National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) shows that 3,89,41,148 cases are pending at the District and Taluka levels and 58.43,113 are still unresolved at the high courts.

Such pendency takes a toll on the efficiency of the judiciary, and ultimately reduces peoples' access to justice.

The use of Al in the justice system depends on first identifying various legal processes

where the application of this technology can reduce pendency and increase efficiency. For example, to extract facts from a legal document, the programme

should be able to understand the document and what it entails.

Over time, the machine can learn from experience.

Additionally, there is a need of constantly nurturing to reduce any bias, and increase learning.

Benefits of Al in Justice Delivery

Al and related technologies will be able to automate and complement several tasks performed by legal professionals.

It will allow them to invest more energy in creatively solving legal issues.

It has the possibility of helping judges conduct trials faster and more effectively thereby reducing the pendency of cases.

It will assist legal professionals in devoting more time in developing better legal reasoning, legal discussion and interpretation of laws

SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency)

SUPACE is an Al system that was recently launched by the Supreme Court of India.

Designed to first understand judicial processes that require automation, it then assists the Court in improving efficiency and reducing pendency.

It can assist in the translation of judgments into regional languages.

This is another landmark effort to increase access to justice.

The technology, when applied in the long run, will reduce the time taken to file a case and assist the court in becoming an independent, quick, and efficient system.

Concerns/ Challenges

The integration of these technologies will be a challenging task as the legal architecture is highly complex and technologies

can only be auxiliary means to achieve legal justice. As Al technology grows, concerns about data protection,

privacy, human rights and ethics will pose fresh challenges.

Through these steps, the Supreme Court has become the global frontrunner in application of Al and Machine Learning into processes of the justice system.

It requires great self-regulation by developers of these technologies.

It will also require external regulation by the legislature through statute, rules, regulation and by judiciary through judicial review qua constitutional standards.

With increasing adoption of the technology, there will be more debates and conversations on the problems as well as their potential solutions.

In the long-run it would help in reducing the pendency of cases and improving overall efficiency of justice system.