ARTIFICIAL technology (AI) can be of great help to the judiciary but it should never replace the human elements of justice, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said.
Gesmundo emphasized the transformative role of technology, particularly AI, in reshaping the judicial landscape as he spoke before his fellow judiciary leaders last Saturday at the 19th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The biennial gathering brings together judiciary leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss critical issues facing justice systems today, particularly in the context of global challenges and technological advancements.
Speaking on the Regulation of the Legal Profession and the Education of Lawyers in an Era of Artificial Intelligence, Gesmundo highlighted the opportunities and challenges AI presents to deliver justice efficiently as he underscored the moral responsibility of judiciary leaders to guide their institutions through rapid technological changes.
Gesmundo told the gathering about the significant potential of AI to assist judges in streamlining administrative tasks, expediting legal research, and predicting judicial outcomes.
Citing examples from foreign jurisdictions, he noted that AI is already used in courts for tasks such as examining evidence and preparing case files.
However, he stressed that AI should support judicial efficiency but never replace the human elements of justice.
“Courts should still be populated with human judges if we are to expect that empathy and compassion would still go into the consideration of granting equitable remedies,” Gesmundo said, as he emphasized the courts’ role in ensuring that AI remains a tool for judicial efficiency without compromising the integrity and human-centric nature of justice.
“While AI can enhance judicial processes, it lacks essential human qualities like empathy, ethical discretion, and the ability to adapt to societal changes — elements crucial for ensuring that justice is not only administered efficiently but also fairly and compassionately,” he added.
Last month, Court Administrator Raul Villanueva told the Senate during the hearing on the Judiciary’s 2025 budget that the SC is looking into using AI to speed up the drafting of decisions and improve operations in the judiciary, adding that the High Court was already developing voice-to-text transcription.
At the moment, Villanueva said they are using AI for monitoring cases and doing research.
During the hearing, Associate Justice Mario Lopez also assured the Senate the court was not and will not be totally dependent on AI as he said “there is some humanity involved in the disposition of cases.”
Gesmundo also told the Kuala Lumpur gathering of the SC’s innovations under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), its five-year reform agenda, which incorporates AI-driven programs in court processes to improve efficiency and access to justice.
