Ulster University’s Centre for Legal Technology to lead research into the role of AI in judicial decision making

Researchers at Ulster University’s newly established Centre for Legal Technology (CLT) are set to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial decision making.

Supported by £200,000 in funding from the UK’s AI Security Institute, the project will examine how AI could be responsibly integrated into judicial decision-making while ensuring fairness, transparency, and judicial independence.

Through collaboration with members of the judiciary, policymakers, legal professionals, industry and AI experts, the 12-month scheme will develop ethical guidelines and policy recommendations to ensure that AI adoption in judicial systems aligns with the rule of law and human rights standards.

The initial phase will focus on the Courts of England and Wales, exploring how AI systems could support judicial processes without undermining core legal principles.

Led by John Keers BL, an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) expert and Director of the CLT, the project represents a significant breakthrough for Northern Ireland’s legal technology sector, marking its emergence as a key player in AI ethics and judicial innovation.

The groundbreaking AI research project is one of only 20 successful bids out of 451 applications to the AI Security Institute’s Systemic AI Safety Grants Programme. First announced at the Seoul AI Summit, the programme aims to increase societal resilience to AI-related risks so its benefits can be fully realised.

Each awarded seed grants of up to £200,000, the 20 projects will involve independent research focused on safeguarding the societal systems and critical infrastructure into which AI is being deployed.

John Keers BL, Director of Ulster University’s Centre for Legal Technology, said:

“While AI is not currently used in judicial decision-making, it is vital to develop ethical and regulatory safeguards now to ensure any future adoption aligns with the values of justice. This project’s selection by the UK’s AI Secuity Institute underscores the growing role Northern Ireland is playing in advancing legal technology and shaping the future of the justice system.”

This initiative highlights the ambition and innovation driving Northern Ireland’s legal technology community and its potential to make a meaningful contribution to the future of justice in the UK and beyond.