AI in the Courtroom: Can Robots Be Judges?

AI is stepping into courtrooms and changing the way justice works! In Estonia, an "AI judge" is helping solve small money disputes faster. China uses "Smart Courts" where AI creates legal documents, checks evidence, and predicts case outcomes. But not everything is perfect—an AI tool in the U.S. called COMPAS tried to predict if people would re-offend but was found to unfairly label Black defendants as high risk. This raises big questions: Can AI be fair? Should it work alongside human judges to make better decisions?

Your Task:

Step 1: Pair Up

Each student in the pair will take a different stance on the issue of AI in the courtroom. One partner will argue for AI judges, and the other will argue against AI judges.

Step 2: Research and Brainstorm

For AI Judges: Consider how AI could reduce human bias, increase efficiency, and handle overwhelming case loads.

Against AI Judges: Consider the importance of empathy, ethics, and how AI might reinforce systemic injustices if trained on flawed data.

Step 3: Debate

Partners come together and present their arguments to each other. Afterward, they should discuss whether there’s a middle ground—a system where AI and human judges work together. For example, AI could assist with analyzing evidence while humans make final judgments.

Step 4: Reflect and Write

After the debate, each student will write a paragraph summarizing their stance and whether their opinion changed after hearing the other side. Include suggestions for how AI could improve justice while addressing its limitations.