In a major speech, Deputy PM David Lammy will set out a raft of changes to modernise the creaking justice system amid a backlash over his plans to reduce jury trials
David Lammy will this week urge judges to embrace AI to cut record backlogs in crisis-hit courts.
In a major speech, the Deputy PM will set out a raft of changes to modernise the creaking justice system amid a backlash over his plans to reduce jury trials. Mr Lammy, who also serves as Justice Secretary, will promise judges that human decision-making will be protected – but technology must be accepted by the judiciary.
A Ministry of Justice source told The Mirror: “The Deputy PM is determined to bring the Courts system into the 21st century, using technology to make it more efficient and to put victims at its heart, as they should be.”
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Mr Lammy is also expected to back prison vans using bus lanes to speed up transportation from jails to courts, as well as increasing the number of court sitting days. The government has insisted such efficiencies and operational reforms are not enough to fix the justice crisis and that it must introduce generational changes to the courts.
Last year, Mr Lammy announced that criminals facing sentences of less than three years would lose access to jury trials. Dozens of MPs have raised the alarm over the plans, while legal professionals have been fiercely critical.
Juries will still remain for the most serious crimes including rape, murder, kidnap, rioting, terrorism and robbery. But the proposals are expected to see the number of cases going to juries halve from 3% to 1.5%.
The bill to bring forward the changes is expected to be introduced as soon as Wednesday, depending on parliamentary scheduling. Ministers insist the changes to jury trials are necessary to cut the courts backlog.
Around 80,000 cases are waiting to be heard on the record Crown Courts backlog, with cases in some parts of the country being listed for trial as late as 2030.
Earlier this month, Sir Brian Leveson published the second half of his review into the courts, which made more than 130 recommendations to make the system work more effectively.
In his report, Sir Brian wrote that HM Courts & Tribunals Service said the “biggest challenge” in speeding up AI adoption is ensuring it does not affect judicial outcomes “in a way that impacts judicial independence, impartiality or integrity”.
But he continued: “It is my view that judges need to embrace the adoption of AI across the courts and tribunals, provided the necessary safeguards are in place for judicial decision-making.”
The retired senior judge said using some AI tools, such as predictive tools, “to replace human decision-making raises profound ethical and practical concerns”. He said they “risk eroding accountability and transparency” and “undermining public trust and due process”.
The review concludes that the courts should focus on AI tools being used to “augment rather than replace human decision-making”.
Brett Dixon, the Law Society’s vice president, said: “We support modernising the justice system and adopting new technology, provided it enhances access to justice, is reliable, and ensures fairness.
“AI is not, however, a silver bullet to improve the justice system. It might help to ease some administrative pressures, but it is not a replacement for much-needed investment in the court estate and additional court staff.
“Where liberty and reputation are at stake, the government must take particular care to safeguard people’s rights and ensure fair processes. All decisions, especially those with serious consequences to people’s lives, must be made by humans.”