John Keers BL

Researchers gave been granted £200,000 in funding from the UK’s AI Security Institute to examine how AI could be responsibly integrated into judicial decision-making while ensuring fairness, transparency, and judicial independence.

The 12-month project will collaborate with members of the judiciary, policymakers, legal professionals, industry and AI experts to develop “ethical guidelines and policy recommendations” for AI adoption in judicial systems aligning with the rule of law and human rights standards. 

The initial phase will focus on the courts of England and Wales, exploring how AI systems could support judicial processes without undermining core legal principles. 

John Keers BL, an online dispute resolution (ODR) expert and director of the newly-established Centre for Legal Technology (CLT), is leading the project.

It is one of only 20 successful bids out of 451 applications to the AI Security Institute’s systemic AI safety grants programme, which aims to increase societal resilience to AI-related risks so its benefits can be fully realised.

Mr Keers said: “While AI is not currently used in judicial decision-making, it is vital to develop ethical and regulatory safeguards now to ensure any future adoption aligns with the values of justice.

“This project’s selection by the UK’s AI Security Institute underscores the growing role Northern Ireland is playing in advancing legal technology and shaping the future of the justice system.”