Justice minister Sarah Sackman confirmed this week she has commissioned research into the potential for AI transcripts—as recommended by Sir Brian Leveson in his independent review of the criminal courts, published in February.
Court transcript fees can take weeks to prepare and amount to hundreds of, or even several thousand, pounds—a substantial sum for victims seeking to know exactly what was said in court. The research, led by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, will test whether the Ministry of Justice’s in-house AI, Justice Transcribe, can do the job to the required standard.
Bindmans partner Katie Wheatley said: ‘Access to faster cheaper transcripts will benefit all those with an interest in the proceedings, provided they are accurate.
‘I would expect the government’s research to explore how accuracy can be verified and guaranteed, and the process for safeguarding recordings and transcripts of a particularly sensitive nature, such as recordings from “closed” proceedings that sometimes take place, from which parties or the public may be excluded.’
Law Society vice president Brett Dixon welcomed the announcement but urged caution. ‘A recent report from the Ada Lovelace Institute highlighted some of the challenges of AI transcription, and the importance of evaluation and oversight [‘Scribe and prejudice?’, February 2026],’ he said.
‘The findings underscore the need for any government-commissioned research to include an assessment of impact on accuracy, fairness and confidentiality, as well as staff training needs. Robust safeguards are needed to protect individuals and the integrity of the justice system. This includes retaining audio recordings to allow for accuracy to be checked.’
In January, the Ministry of Justice pledged to waive the fee, as of spring 2027, for victims for transcripts of sentencing remarks in the Crown Court.
