The guidelines are geared towards judges, judicial staff, lawyers, and non-lawyers
The Courts of New Zealand have released guidelines for the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, or Bing Chat, in court proceedings and tribunals.
Judges, Judicial Officers, Tribunal Members, and Judicial Support Staff
The guidelines support judges, judicial officers, court and tribunal members, and their respective support staff. The guidelines emphasise that any utilisation of generative AI chatbots must align with the overarching duty of the judiciary to uphold the integrity of the administration of justice and court or tribunal processes.
The guidelines, which took effect on 7 December 2023, also outline critical risks associated with generative AI chatbots and practical suggestions to mitigate these risks.
Lawyers
Recognising the increasing prevalence of generative AI within the New Zealand legal profession, the judiciary extended the guidance to lawyers. The guidelines included practical suggestions to help lawyers minimise risks and adhere to their professional obligations when incorporating generative AI chatbots into their legal practices.
The courts reminded lawyers that existing professional obligations apply to these evolving technologies and advised lawyers to exercise caution due to the inherent risks and limitations of generative AI chatbots.
The comprehensive guidelines for using generative AI chatbots in court or tribunal proceedings are also intended to guide non-lawyers such as self-represented litigants, McKenzie friends, and lay advocates.
The guidelines developed by the New Zealand judiciary are available on the courts' website. The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration Inc. and the UK judiciary also developed and released similar guidelines for their courts and tribunals.
