Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo yesterday presented the ongoing efforts of the Supreme Court (SC) in capitalizing on the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance court performance and assist individuals representing themselves in court.
“For our target outcome of innovation, the [SC] is developing an Enterprise Network Infrastructure for the Judiciary to support the Judiciary’s quest to transform our adjudicative and administrative processes digitally. This network infrastructure will ensure network interoperability so that court officials and employees can work more productively, using modern digital applications,” said Gesmundo during the 2nd anniversary of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI).
The SPJI, the SC’s blueprint for action on judicial reforms, has three-fold target outcomes of efficiency, access, and innovation, with the aim of delivering responsive and real-time justice, to secure the judiciary’s relevance in the face of changing times.
Gesmundo noted that AI is “one of the most impactful technologies” such that the SC is “capitalizing on AI-enabled tools to enhance court performance, notably in voice to text transcription and legal research.”
Pilot testing of AI software, SCRIPTIX, for court stenographers (voice-to-text) has been on-going in select first- and second-level courts to address the shortage in court stenographers, according to him.
Likewise, he said AI-assisted generation of pleadings and other legal documents for pro se litigants or those who are representing themselves in court “will contribute to improved access to justice, especially for those who cannot afford legal representation.”
The SC has also incorporated in its website a database of free legal aid providers in various judicial regions in recognition of the lack or insufficiency of legal aid services in some areas or communities.
The Court’s technology-driven initiatives also include the use of AI-enabled platforms to optimize legal research, redevelopment of the eCourt System to benefit litigants and judicial personnel alike, and the development of a Judiciary MIS Operations Manual to support the daily MIS operations, including the day-to-day ICT operations.
Gesmundo also cited digital signing of court-issued papers and the AI-assisted Translation/Interpretation of transcripts of stenographic notes (TSNs) and Judicial Decisions.
Despite the use of technological advancements to make the system more efficient, the SC has clarified that the human aspect will not be discarded.
