Baroness Carr emphasised the need for vigilance and robust oversight in the use of AI….reports Asian Lite News
Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill addressed a distinguished audience at Mansion House in London, highlighting the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal system. While acknowledging AI’s potential benefits, she warned of its risks, emphasising the need for vigilance and robust oversight.
Baroness Carr began her address by expressing gratitude for the hospitality of the City of London and acknowledging the shared birthday of the Lady Mayor-elect and Lord Mackay, who turned 98. She then turned to the importance of the rule of law, emphasising the daily efforts of judges across England and Wales in upholding justice. She encouraged the audience to witness justice in action by visiting courts and tribunals, citing the recent participation of Members of Parliament in such visits.
The Lady Chief Justice highlighted the “Good, the Bad, and the Eternal” aspects of the judiciary. The “Good” included the contributions of retiring senior judges, whose legacies would be carried forward by their successors. She also praised the international contributions of UK judges, noting their role in cementing the UK’s reputation for international dispute resolution.
However, it was her discussion of AI that captured significant attention. She acknowledged the benefits of increasing digitisation and AI in the legal field but also highlighted the risks. She cited reports from the United States of lawyers citing “hallucinatory” judgments conjured up by AI chatbots. Over the past year, similar incidents have occurred in the UK, with litigants-in-person and even lawyers citing fake judgments in tribunals and courts.
Baroness Carr emphasised the need for vigilance and robust oversight in the use of AI. She called for careful training and support for lawyers, particularly trainees and those in the early years of their careers, to enable them to use AI circumspectly and effectively. She expressed confidence that with time and cautious incrementalism, the use of AI by lawyers and judges would be beneficial, promoting fairer, more efficient, and effective access to justice.
She also addressed the increasing threats and abuse faced by judges, both online and offline, calling for enhanced judicial security. The Lady Chief Justice stressed the importance of addressing such behavior, which undermines the democratic process, and expressed her commitment to working with the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS to enhance judicial security.
Baroness Carr thanked the City of London for its support of the judiciary, both nationally and internationally. She looked forward to continued collaboration between the judiciary, government, and the City to promote justice and uphold the rule of law.
The speech underscored the Lady Chief Justice’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the judiciary while addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements. The reference to AI highlighted the need for careful oversight and training to ensure that technology enhances, rather than undermines, the legal process.
