Source: NL Times

NL Times reports that the Rotterdam District Court in the Netherlands is testing the use of artificial intelligence to assist judges in drafting criminal verdicts. This AI tool does not replace judges or make decisions but supports the writing process by generating a draft verdict based on court documents and proceedings. According to court spokespersons, the primary goal is to improve efficiency and reduce workload while maintaining judicial independence and accuracy.

The system uses natural language processing to summarize information and suggest structured text in line with legal reasoning. Judges retain full control and responsibility for final verdicts. The pilot is being carefully evaluated to ensure the technology adheres to ethical, legal, and transparency standards. The test reflects broader discussions in the Netherlands on how AI can responsibly integrate into public services, especially in sensitive sectors like the judiciary.