Morning, Thursday, 26th February 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for the use of AI in the justice system and courts modernisation in England and Wales. It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to examine implications of digital transformation for judicial practice, court infrastructure, and access to justice.
With Part 2 of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts on efficiency in the courts expected in due course and following publication of the Government’s AI Action Plan for Justice in July, attendees will assess policy, regulatory and operational considerations for efficiently embedding AI across the justice system.
It also follows government recently announcing proposed reforms aiming to modernise criminal courts and tackle case backlogs, including proposals to introduce new ‘swift courts’ which will see cases with a sentence of three years or less to be heard by a judge alone, as well as judge-only trials for technical fraud and financial cases, and increasing sentencing powers for magistrates.
Delegates will consider the potential impact on court processes, judicial responsibilities, and the role of technology in supporting non-jury adjudications, as well as addressing concerns over the removal of legal safeguards and that wider factors, such as technology and the state of courts, affecting efficiency.
Policy & key issues for implementation
The scope of the AI Action Plan for Justice will be discussed, including priorities moving forward and priorities for the newly established Justice AI Unit in coordinating cross-departmental implementation.
Best practice in AI use cases will be considered, with discussion on next steps for integration of AI-enabled tools into case management, document analysis, sentence-calculation, and predictive modelling, and the extent to which these developments might impact efficiency, accessibility and fairness across the system.
Attendees will consider implications of proposals - such as the AI for All campaign, citizen-facing services, and predictive models - for offender management and rehabilitation. This also includes the AI and Data Science Ethics Framework, priorities for workforce adaptation professional standards, the use of tech and AI in reducing prison release errors, and safeguards needed to maintain transparency and accountability.
Case progression, backlogs & judicial practice
Drawing on recommendations from the forthcoming Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2 and government’s recent announcement of reforms to criminal courts, there will be a focus on how the justice system might better benchmark and deliver efficiency across court processes, looking at evaluation frameworks needed and how digital transformation can support more consistent and timely case progression.
Frameworks for balancing efficiency in case management whilst safeguarding procedural integrity will also be considered, as well as integrating digitalisation alongside legacy systems. Areas for discussion include outcomes of HMCTS’ modernisation programme, the role of digital tools in case management and decision-making in light of the proposed increase in non-jury trials, and next steps for responsible AI deployment as HMCTS develop their AI Adoption Plan, including implications of AI transcription and digital case management for judicial decision-making, alongside priorities for protecting the rights of victims and defendants. Further consideration will be given to ethical dilemmas in AI recommendations for sentencing or judgement.
Sessions will examine how digital tools can reshape physical infrastructure of courts and tribunals, looking at where investment might be best channelled to address issues such as delays, the condition of the court estate, judicial and legal workforce pressures, as well as developing AI and data ethics frameworks for justice practitioners, and the introduction of new technology.
Access to justice & workforce skills
Further sessions will draw on both the Justice Committee’s Access to Justice inquiry and the Online Procedure Rules Committee’s consultation on the digital justice system, with a focus on inclusion frameworks and pre-action protocols.
Delegates will consider the impact of increased use of technology for unrepresented litigants and the extent to which digital services are currently meeting the needs of diverse user groups. Discussion will also look at addressing risks of digital exclusion, as well as preventing algorithmic bias and discrimination.
The effectiveness of user-centred design principles for online justice services will be considered, and support needed in training, skills, and regulation to equip the workforce in preparation for safe and effective deployment of emerging technologies. We also expect discussion on long-term implications of hybrid hearings and their impact on court design and user experience.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from Ministry of Justice; Crown Prosecution Service; HM Courts and Tribunal Service; HM Prison and Probation Service; HM Revenue and Customs; Government Legal Department; Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; National Audit Office; National Crime Agency; Home Office; Department for Transport; Environment Agency; and The Scottish Government.
