Algorithms, rule of law, and the future of justice : implications in the Estonian justice system

This policy brief outlines the prospects, challenges, and potential directions for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the judiciary, using Estonia as a case study. It summarises various perspectives on the use of technology and especially AI in the justice sector drawing on the experience of Estonian judges, administrators, and academics. It further offers policy recommendations for the development, implementation, and use of AI tools and automated decision making (ADM) systems in the judiciary. This policy brief is based on a recent seminar with key stakeholders including Estonian judges and academics held in Tartu (Estonia) on March 24, 2023. Despite the rapid digital transformation of the Estonian public administration, the digitalisation of its judiciary has been slower due to resistance from stakeholders, technical challenges, and concerns over the ethical implications of AI in judicial decision-making.