CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo yesterday said persons who cannot afford legal fees may benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) as the High Court continues to shift to digital processes.
Gesmundo made the remarks in his speech during the 2nd anniversary of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 where he enumerated various AI-assisted programs to facilitate court processes such as AI-assisted generation of pleadings for pro se litigants.
“Once again, the Court aims to leverage the power of AI to assist individuals who are representing themselves in court (pro se litigants) in preparing pleadings and other legal documents through the generation of pertinent legal templates for their use,” Gesmundo told the gathering.
“This will contribute to improved access to justice, especially for those who cannot afford legal representation,” he added.
Aside from this, Gesmundo said the SC is capitalizing on AI-enabled tools to enhance court performance, notably in voice-to-text transcription and legal research.
He said pilot testing of AI software SCRIPTIX for court stenographers has been going on in select first and second-level courts.
“With a cost-effective measure, we hope to address the shortage in court stenographers,” he added.
He also talked about digital developments in the integration of blockchain technologies for evidence management, the roll of attorneys signing and electronic notarization.
“This integration will not only streamline court processes but also improve public trust in legal documents and transactions by making them more insusceptible to fraud, error and unauthorized alterations,” Gesmundo added.
Earlier, Gesmundo said AI can be of great help to the judiciary but it should never replace the human elements of justice.
“Courts should still be populated with human judges if we are to expect that empathy and compassion would still go into the consideration of granting equitable remedies,” Gesmundo said during the 19th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last October 12.
In that gathering, he emphasized the courts’ role in ensuring that AI remains a tool for judicial efficiency without compromising the integrity and human-centric nature of justice.
“While AI can enhance judicial processes, it lacks essential human qualities like empathy, ethical discretion, and the ability to adapt to societal changes — elements crucial for ensuring that justice is not only administered efficiently but also fairly and compassionately,” he added.
Last month, Court Administrator Raul Villanueva told the Senate during the hearing on the Judiciary’s 2025 budget that the SC is looking into using AI to speed up the drafting of decisions and improve operations in the judiciary, adding that the High Court was already developing voice-to-text transcription.
At the moment, Villanueva said they are using AI for monitoring cases and doing research.
