ROBO-JUDGES AND PREDICTIVE JUSTICE: CAN AI DELIVER FAIR TRIALS?

As judicial backlogs reach critical levels globally, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transitioned from administrative support to "predictive justice." Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the judicial ecosystem worldwide — from automating legal research to assisting in bail and sentencing decisions. The concept of Predictive Justice, powered by data analytics and machine learning, aims to make legal outcomes more efficient and consistent. However, the introduction of “Robo-Judges”- autonomous or semi-autonomous and predictive algorithms raises profound ethical and legal confusions: Can justice truly be fair when delivered by machines? This paper explores the applications of AI in justice delivery, the potential benefits, and the serious risks of bias, opacity, and moral detachment. It argues that while AI can support judges and streamline processes, human judgment must remain the centre of Trails to ensure fairness, empathy, and accountability in the rule of law.