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20 February 2026 / Ben Roe
Issue: 8150 / Categories: Features , In Court , Artificial intelligence , Technology
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Justice by AI?

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From document management to decision-making: Ben Roe explores the practical applications of AI in the courtroom

  • This article considers the legal framework governing use of AI in the English courts, and the relative absence of specific guidance.
  • It explores the practical applications of AI in court, including efficiency tools and advocacy assistance, alongside emerging concerns around the use of AI to generate evidence, assess emotions in court and make judicial decisions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform litigation, from how lawyers research and draft documents to how cases are managed. The civil courts are no exception. As this potential becomes more obvious, fundamental questions about the proper role of AI in the courtroom demand attention.

What are the rules?

The regulatory framework governing the use of AI in court remains strikingly underdeveloped. Judges and practitioners looking for clear guidance on what they may do will search largely in vain.

  • This is not for want of activity. At the international level, both UNESCO and the Council of Europe
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NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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