Morocco Hosts Global Dialogue On AI And Justice

Judicial leaders and technical experts from 24 countries have met in Rabat to examine a question that is moving quickly from theory into court administration: where artificial intelligence can support justice, and where it could weaken the independence and procedural safeguards on which justice depends.

The two-day conference on “Justice and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Risks” opened on 14 October. According to Morocco's official account, it was organised by the Kingdom's Court of Cassation with the Association of Supreme Courts of French-speaking countries and included more than 40 court presidents, judges, legal specialists and technical experts from Africa, Europe, Canada and the Middle East.

The programme covered the digitisation of court procedures as well as the ethical, legal and technical implications of generative AI in legal professions. Participants were expected to discuss practical examples, responsible use and the regulatory frameworks needed as judicial systems adopt more digital tools.

Courts have legitimate reasons to explore AI. Large volumes of filings can be classified and searched more effectively. Routine administrative tasks can be reduced. Translation and transcription tools may improve access, while research systems can help legal professionals find relevant material more quickly.

But efficiency cannot become the standard by which every judicial use is justified. Legal decisions affect liberty, property, family life and access to public protection. A system that summarises evidence incorrectly, favours familiar patterns or conceals the origin of a recommendation can change an outcome even when a judge formally remains in charge.

Judicial independence also has a technical dimension. Courts that depend on a vendor's closed model may be unable to examine how information is processed, where confidential data travels or why a result was produced. Procurement rules should therefore address data location, audit access, security, model updates and the ability to stop using a system without losing institutional records.

Morocco is already moving its wider AI 2030 agenda into workforce and implementation planning. The judicial discussion shows why sector-specific rules are needed alongside a national strategy. The acceptable use of AI in tourism or business support is not automatically suitable for criminal proceedings or decisions affecting fundamental rights.

Access to justice should remain part of the assessment. Digital tools can help people understand procedures and reach courts more easily, but poorly designed services may exclude those with limited connectivity, literacy or language support. Any public-facing system should offer a workable human route and make clear that generated information is not a substitute for legal advice.

The conference itself does not create a judicial AI framework. Its value will depend on whether participating institutions publish guidance, define prohibited or high-risk uses and build evaluation capacity inside courts. Live demonstrations can show what technology can do; independent testing must show whether it performs reliably under legal conditions.

Morocco's decision to place judicial independence, litigant rights and professional ethics inside the same conversation as innovation is the correct starting point. The next step is to turn those principles into procurement standards, transparent pilots and enforceable responsibility before AI becomes embedded in judicial workflows.

Source: Official portal of the Kingdom of Morocco.