Hardwiring Justice: Governing AI Before It Governs the Justice System

Justice Speakers Institute · Jan 13, 2026

This article is part of the Hardwiring Justice series on Artificial Intelligence and the Justice System. This is Part 1 in the series examining how AI is shaping policing, prosecution, defense practice, and the courts.*

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concern for the justice system. It is already embedded in daily operations, shaping how cases are screened, scheduled, prioritized, documented, and resolved. In many instances, these systems operate quietly in the background, influencing outcomes long before a judge exercises discretion or a hearing is held. Yet…