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Episode details

Radio 4,04 Nov 2026,27 mins

Should we use AI to make legal decisions?

The Law Show

Available for over a year

Could Artificial Intelligence be used by judges in our courts - and even help make legal decisions? It's a technology that's already being adopted by legal systems in other parts of the world, including a court in the Chinese city of Shenzhen where it is has helped judges navigate over 600,000 small claims cases. Other countries are more cautious, and maintain that AI should never replace human judicial decisions. What are acceptable uses of AI in the judicial system, and what areas should be off limits? So far, in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, there have been AI pilots for legal administrative work and transcription services. In England and Wales, there are also plans for AI legal assistants to help with routine casework and help judges decide which cases are ready to be heard in court. It's an issue which has been considered by Sir Geoffrey Vos - the recently retired Master of the Rolls, Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales. He speaks to Joelle about his findings and how he thinks we the legal system could benefit from AI - and the areas he thinks should be off limits. Plus: is it illegal to buy the books of Irish author Sally Rooney, since she made public that she would like to donate her royalties to the proscribed group Palestine Action? The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, explains the law. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Contributors: Retired Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, former Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales Jonathan Hall KC, from 6KBW College Hill, the goverment's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation

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