Officials seek limited use of AI in judiciary

Senior judges from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization called on Wednesday for deeper exchanges and cooperation in the use of artificial intelligence in the judicial field, emphasizing the need to balance innovation with legal and ethical safeguards.

The remarks were made during the 20th Meeting of Chief Justices of Supreme Courts of SCO Member States, held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Participants said courts in their home countries are already benefiting from AI, and they urged joint efforts to find a balanced approach that leverages the technology while safeguarding data security and staying within legal boundaries.

Deng Xiuming, executive vice-president of China's Supreme People's Court, said technological innovations such as big data and AI have been promoted and adopted across Chinese courts, contributing to high-quality judicial development.

He cited examples including an AI-powered copyright review system developed by the Supreme People's Court to address challenges in detecting duplicate patterns in copyright infringement cases. Courts in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, have created an AI-assisted system to support the trial process, including case filing, hearings and legal document drafting.

Despite the advantages, Deng stressed that AI should only play a supporting role in judicial work.

"Chinese courts will stay firmly committed to the principle that AI can only play a supporting role in judicial affairs and make sure that all the final decisions and responsibilities belong to human judges, thereby strictly upholding legal, ethical and security boundaries," he said.

Justice Shahid Waheed of the Supreme Court of Pakistan proposed the development of a robust framework of ethical principles to guide AI's use in judicial settings.

"It's crucial to remain vigilant to the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI in the courtroom," Waheed said.

He emphasized the need for courts to disclose when assistance from AI is taken in decision-making, ensuring litigants are informed. He also called for strong protections of sensitive litigant data through strict adherence to privacy laws and cybersecurity protocols.

India's Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna echoed the call for data protection and recommended regular updates for AI systems due to the technology's rapid evolution. He also stressed the importance of legal education in preparing practitioners to use AI wisely.

"Our profession's future hinges on knowing when technology serves us best and when human judgment prevails," Khanna said.

"This demands institutional investment in specialized curricula, continuing education and practical frameworks for the intelligent, ethical application of AI in legal practice."

Mohammad Kazemifard, head of the Center for Statistics, Information and Technology of Iran, described AI as an opportunity and said Iran welcomes stronger cooperation with other member states in the use of new technologies and smart judicial services.

He proposed the creation of a dedicated AI committee to address issues such as defining the boundaries of AI's role in judicial decision-making and harmonizing standards for judicial data protection.

"AI becomes a tool for inclusive and equitable justice — never a threat," Kazemifard said.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn