Two of California’s largest courts, including the Los Angeles County Superior Court, are testing a new artificial intelligence tool called Learned Hand.
This tool, introduced in February, can draft orders and produce research memos for judges, primarily in civil cases. However, documents obtained by CalMatters indicate potential expansion into criminal cases, raising concerns about the implications for justice and freedom.
The AI tool, developed by Learned Hand, assists judges by summarizing legal motions and drafting tentative rulings. Court officials emphasize that judges are required to review and edit AI-generated drafts before adopting them. According to the Los Angeles Times, Rob Oftring Jr., the court’s chief spokesman, stated that this technology does not replace judges’ independent decision-making roles.
Despite its potential to address workload crises, the AI tool has sparked concern among legal professionals who fear it could introduce errors and bias. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed worries about AI-generated rulings predisposing judges before they conduct their legal analysis. Additionally, Intelligent CIO reported that the AI tool’s outputs undergo multiple verification checks to ensure accuracy.
Shlomo Klapper, the founder of Learned Hand, likens the AI to a “judicial sous chef,” supporting judges without replacing them. Klapper emphasized the need for such tools to manage increasing caseloads, especially with more self-represented litigants filing cases in civil court.
The pilot program, costing over $300,000, is set to continue until early 2027. While currently focused on civil cases, there is potential for limited use in criminal courts in the future. Judges are not required to disclose their use of the AI tool in their decision-making process, according to AOL News.
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