You Already Know How to Do This

Last week I released AI in Chambers: A Framework for Judicial AI Use, and the early feedback has been encouraging. 👉 Download the guide here. Still, I know some of my colleagues may feel uneasy about the idea. When judges hear the phrase “AI in Chambers,” it can sound technical, futuristic and even risky.

But if you’ve ever worked with a law clerk, you already know how to do this.

That’s the foundation of the guide. It’s not built on theory or abstraction. It reflects the familiar rhythm of judicial work: reviewing filings, spotting the key issues, summarizing the record, analyzing the arguments, checking citations, verifying facts, refining drafts, and issuing a decision. That process doesn’t change. What’s new is the introduction of a tool that can support your work, helping with synthesis, speed, and structure without ever replacing judgment, discretion, or voice.

This isn’t a leap, it’s an evolution. It's a way to be more intentional about where GenAI fits and where it doesn’t.

And for those who think this is all still theoretical, consider what just happened in the United Kingdom. In a recent tax case, a tribunal judge used GenAI to help distill party submissions and extract key facts from extensive filings. The judge disclosed the use in the ruling and made clear that the AI was not used to draw conclusions or decide issues. Everything was carefully reviewed and edited before being included in the final decision. 👉 Read the UK tribunal ruling. It was a narrow and responsible use.

That's exactly the kind of scenario this guide was written for. GenAI helped manage the volume so the judge could stay focused on the law and the reasoning. And if that judge, or any other judge, chooses to expand the use of GenAI in future cases, this framework could offer a starting point for doing so thoughtfully. The point is simple: start with what works and scale up only when you're comfortable. You already know how to do this. Now you get to decide how AI fits into your chambers, on your terms, and with your judgment leading the way.