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AI Use in Australian Court Cases is Rising as Federal Court Chief Justice Says Use Needs to be Supported

The Australian Financial Review

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Date Published
5 Apr 2026
Priority Score
2
Australian
Yes
Created
5 Apr 2026, 06:00 am

Authors (1)

Description

Judges say changes to increase efficiency in courtrooms are not about “substituting AI for the judge” as the technology’s use soars in the justice system.

Summary

This report examines the increasing reliance on generative AI by self-represented litigants in the Australian Federal Court and its resultant impact on judicial efficiency. Chief Justice Debra Mortimer highlights that while AI can provide legal assistance to the unrepresented, it is currently driving a surge in workload issues, errors, and 'bogus claims' within the Fair Work Commission. The article emphasizes that while judicial leaders advocate for integrating AI to manage administrative burdens, the focus remains on supporting humans rather than substituting the judge's role. These developments reflect broader challenges in legal governance regarding the accuracy and reliability of AI outputs in high-stakes institutional environments.

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CompaniesProfessional ServicesLegal professionPrint articleJanek DrevikovskyLegal affairs reporterApr 5, 2026 – 2.04pmFaced with a surge in cases brought by self-represented litigants, the leaders of some of Australia’s top courts are calling for a closer embrace of artificial intelligence, even as their colleagues at the Fair Work Commission blame the new technology for driving a flood of bogus claims.In a speech, Chief Justice of the Federal Court Debra Mortimer acknowledged the spike in claims by people without legal representation and accepted that their use of AI for “legal advice and assistance” had caused “expanding workload issues and errors” for judges and staff.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreLegal professionAICourtsFetching latest articles