UK to deploy AI legal assistants in Crown courts to tackle case backlog
The UK government will trial artificial intelligence tools in Crown Courts to reduce a record backlog of criminal cases. The Ministry of Justice said judges and lawyers will test the AI systems in controlled environments before wider deployment.
The technology will analyse case files, identify cases ready for trial, and group similar hearings to improve court scheduling. Justice Secretary David Lammy will announce the initiative at London Tech Week on Tuesday.
The Crown Court backlog in England and Wales now exceeds 80,000 cases-more than double the 38,108 cases recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.
What the AI tools will do
The government will also introduce an AI transcription system for probation officers in England and Wales. The tool will automatically record and transcribe conversations with offenders, cutting administrative workloads.
Lammy said the technology could reduce court delays while saving thousands of hours of administrative work.
Legal bodies welcome the move cautiously
Ian Jeffery, chief executive of the Law Society of England and Wales, said the pilot should be thoroughly evaluated with findings made public. He stressed that technology should support access to justice but cannot replace investment in courts and staffing.
Andrew Thomas KC, vice-chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said AI could handle routine tasks efficiently. However, he warned that judges and lawyers must understand its limitations.
"Criminal cases still require human judgment and careful assessment of evidence," Thomas said. "AI should support legal professionals rather than replace them."
Legal professionals working with these systems should understand how AI handles document analysis and case management. Explore AI for Legal professionals or consider the AI Learning Path for Paralegals to develop relevant skills.
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