Source: The Supreme Court of Victoria

Chief Justice Richard Niall told an LIV forum that good governance is crucial to progress and that courts require the trust and confidence of the community they serve. He said the rise of AI should prompt reflection on judicial roles so that AI becomes part of professional life without overtaking it, and emphasised that AI will improve access to information but is not a substitute for human judgment. He warned that when AI is trained on past decisions it can reflect those outcomes but that process "mimics" rather than equals ethical human judgment in applying law to individual cases.

The Victorian Justice Leaders AI forum on May 26 brought together regulators, private practice, the public sector and technology providers to discuss AI challenges and generate actionable ideas. Chief Justice Niall said the Courts Council, which comprises heads of jurisdiction and two independent non‑judicial members, has established an AI Committee to create a framework for acquiring and deploying AI. He said a court‑centred framework will best protect the unique features of the judicial system while driving innovation, and that framework development follows the release of the Supreme Court’s Practice Note and Judicial Guidelines for use of AI to increase confidence and set out the Court’s expectations of users.