Britain to test AI for court transcripts
Britain’s Ministry of Justice has announced plans for research to explore how AI can provide court transcripts faster and at lower cost.
The research, led by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), will look at whether AI can “open the door to faster, cheaper access to court records for victims and others who need them”.
The ministry says that costly court-transcript fees have meant that victims have had to fork out hundreds – and, in some cases, thousands of pounds – to access exactly what was said in court.
“The findings have the potential to significantly reduce these fees and mark another step towards greater transparency,” it adds.
In-house AI tool
Currently, transcripts of Crown Court proceedings are produced by contracted providers.
The new study will explore how the Ministry of Justice’s in-house AI, Justice Transcribe, could meet required accuracy standards while reducing transcription time and costs.
Charlotte Schreurs, survivor and founder of the Open Justice For All campaign, welcomed the deployment of AI to make transcripts more easily and freely accessible for victims.
“Court transcripts are imperative for victims in the healing process – to understand what was said and to be able to move on,” she said, adding that such a move would also bring accountability and transparency to the courts.
Access question
The England-and-Wales Law Society Gazette said that a question yet to be resolved was who, apart from victims, would have access to the free transcripts.
The Gazette understands that current contracts with commercial transcription services are due to be renewed next year.
Courts Service chief executive Angela Denning, asked about potential uses of AI at a Law Society event earlier this year, indicated that transcription was an area at which the organisation would look.