California's Los Angeles and Riverside County Superior Courts are piloting an AI tool called Learned Hand that can draft orders and research memos, raising significant concerns about bias, privacy, and the potential impact on criminal justice. - The tool is currently used in civil cases but contracts allow expansion to criminal, family, and probate divisions.
- Critics, including judges and public defenders, warn that AI cannot replace human judgment, especially in cases involving racial bias. - The tool has been tested on motions to suppress evidence and post-conviction relief, with district attorneys expressing alarm over potential errors.
- Courts have not disclosed whether litigants are aware their cases may be analyzed by AI, though officials claim testing is currently on already-decided motions. The pilot program highlights the tension between judicial efficiency and the need to protect constitutional rights and public trust in the justice system.