The Supreme Court (SC) is set to draft a governance framework for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize the judiciary’s systems and workflows, and enhance judicial efficiency and accuracy.

Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen said the AI Governance Framework for the Judiciary will provide standards for using AI in court administration such as human resource, finance, and security, as well as in legal research, document analysis, courtroom applications, and case management.

The drafting a framework was announced by Justice Leonen in a meeting with journalists last week.

Leonen said the adoption of a framework is aligned with the five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) and “a key step toward modernizing the judiciary’s systems and workflows.” 

A press briefer issued by the SC’s Public Information Office (SC-PIO) stated that the “SC has already commenced pilot testing of AI technologies, including voice-to-text transcription software for court stenographers in the Sandiganbayan and select first-and second-level courts.”

It also said that several SC offices are trialing AI-enhanced platforms designed to streamline legal research.

But Justice Leonen emphasized that the SC has not yet fully implemented any AI systems. 

“The Judiciary remains in the process of digitalizing its procedures, mapping processes, and carefully evaluating which AI applications will be scalable for a broader rollout,” he said. 

“While the Court is aware of advanced AI tools such as GPT, it has yet to adopt these technologies,” he stressed.

During his talk with journalists, Justice Leonen said the AI Governance Framework “will incorporate ethical guidelines for AI deployment, focusing on core principles such as reliability, transparency, accountability, fairness and non-discrimination, privacy and data protection, human agency and oversight, security and safety, societal benefit, sustainability (resources and ecology), and continuous monitoring.”

He highlighted developments in the SC’s eCourt System Version 2.0 (eCourt PH 2.0), which aims to digitalize adjudication processes. Key components of this system include eFiling and eService in civil cases in trial courts; digital case management tools for trial courts; appellate and Supreme Court management applications; and digital appeals for civil cases, he said.

During the meeting with journalists, Justice Leonen was joined by SC Spokesperson lawyer Camille Sue Mae L. Ting, Chief Communications Officer lawyer Michael Jobert I. Navallo, and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Information lawyer Jed Sherwin G. Uy.

Earlier in Iloilo City during the national convention of the Philippine Judges Association (PJA), Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo had reminded trial court judges that they can harness technology, like AI, to assist them but not to replace their independent judgment.

“Justice is not achieved through a mechanical application of the law, but through a humane interpretation which recognizes the primacy of the individual for whom the law was made,” the Chief Justice said. 

Among all technologies, he said that AI – with its ability to rapidly analyze voluminous data sets, predict outcomes, and automate mechanical and repetitive tasks – “is transforming how legal services are delivered and how judicial systems operate.”

“The SC is capitalizing on AI-enabled tools to enhance court performance, notably in voice to text transcription and legal research,” he said.

He noted that several SC offices are testing the use of AI-enabled platforms to optimize legal research and decrease the time spent on preliminary research and allow more time for analysis.