Judiciary must embrace AI with caution – Taraba Chief Judge
Jalingo, Taraba State — Justice Joel Agya, the Chief Judge of Taraba State, emphasized the need for careful integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the judiciary, underscoring adherence to principles such as judicial independence, impartiality, integrity, accountability, and fairness.
Agya made these remarks during the opening of a two-day training program for High Court judges focused on the application of AI in judicial processes.
He highlighted the growing importance of AI literacy in modern judicial administration, labeling the technology as one of the most transformative developments in recent history.
“The world is experiencing an unprecedented technological revolution that is altering institutional operations, decision-making, and service delivery,” Agya stated. “The justice sector is not exempt from these shifts.”
The Chief Judge noted that courts worldwide are investigating ways to leverage emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, improve access to justice, strengthen legal research, and support judicial administration. However, he cautioned that while AI presents substantial opportunities, it also introduces ethical, legal, and practical challenges related to accuracy, confidentiality, transparency, bias, and judicial responsibility.
Agya explained that the workshop aims to equip judges with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI, promoting responsible use within the judicial process.
“The goal is not to replace judicial reasoning or discretion, but to enhance our understanding of technological tools that can assist us in our responsibilities while preserving the human judgment central to justice delivery,” he added.
Mr. Segun Meleki, Managing Director of Lex Decipher Tech Ltd and a resource person for the workshop, praised the Taraba judiciary’s leadership for its commitment to innovation and interest in AI application.
He acknowledged the considerable opportunities AI presents, despite its challenges, and expressed confidence that participants would gain essential skills for effectively employing AI in judicial processes.
Meleki pointed out that judges across various levels of the court system are increasingly adopting the global trend of integrating AI into legal and judicial operations.
