California Judges Test AI Assistant in Civil Cases, Expansion to Criminal Courts Raises Concerns

Two of California's largest trial courts are piloting an AI tool that can draft court orders and research reports, primarily in civil cases. Documents reveal plans to expand its use to criminal and family courts, raising concerns about bias and public trust.

- The Los Angeles County Superior Court launched a pilot program in February using a tool from Learned Hand, combining AI models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. - Riverside County has a $10,000 agreement to test the tool in probate and civil cases.

- An anonymous judge expressed alarm about using AI to evaluate appeals involving racial bias claims. - AI errors have already been documented in nearly 90 California court cases since August 2024.

The expansion to criminal courts, where personal liberty is at stake, has drawn criticism from legal experts and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, who called it risky.