The public sector has a reputation of being behind the curve on new technology. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created in part to correct government’s perceived backwardness.
Enter AI and legal research. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming legal research in the private sector. Less well understood, however, is how AI will transform public sector research and practice.
This is beginning to change, particularly in India. The Delhi High Court has opened a one-of-a-kind, AI-assisted legal research library, as reported by the Times of India. This library features SCC Online, the legal research online database Manupatra, and the AI platform Lucio, according to the ToI.
India, more than most countries, can benefit from the use of AI to streamline its legal processes. Delhi’s district courts alone have 1,530,000 cases, many of which were filed years ago. Courts are sitting on millions of pages of transcribed testimony. AI services, including ‘Adalat AI,’ which was launched in July 2024, can help with transcribing testimony.
Delhi’s experimentation with AI tools has obvious implications for other locations. Courts can use AI to both (a) better organize and review their case backlogs; and (b) efficiently research and adjudicate each case. These efficiencies can help with access to justice.