CHINA

Two Sessions: China’s Top Court Draws Red Line on AI in Courtrooms

Published: Mar. 10, 2026 10:46 a.m. GMT+8

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Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun delivers a work report at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 9. Photo: VCG

China’s top judge is drawing a firm line against the unchecked use of artificial intelligence in the courtroom, warning that relying on algorithms risks compromising judicial fairness.

Delivering a work report at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 9, Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun said the research and development of AI-assisted trial systems must proceed steadily and prudently. He affirmed that the technology must maintain an “assistive” role and that the subjects of judicial responsibility can only be judges.

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China’s top judge warns against overreliance on AI in courts, emphasizing that only judges, not algorithms, bear judicial responsibility.
AI in Chinese courts is used mainly for file review, transcript automation, case retrieval, and document drafting to reduce judges’ clerical workload.
Legal experts stress AI can assist but not replace judges, highlighting the need for clear guidelines on its appropriate use in trials.

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Who’s Who

Zhejiang Kinding Law Firm: Zhejiang Kinding Law Firm employs lawyer Zhang Yanlai, who has experience in AI-related cases. Zhang notes the increased use of AI in domestic courts for tasks like intelligent file review and automated trial transcripts, highlighting its value in reducing judges' workload. However, he emphasizes that judicial adjudication involves value judgments, and judges, not algorithms, must remain the gatekeepers of fairness.

Beijing Hairun Law Firm: Li Bin, a senior partner at Beijing Hairun Law Firm, holds a cautious view on AI-assisted trials. She emphasizes the importance of judges personally reviewing case details to grasp facts accurately, cautioning against relying solely on AI summaries. Li believes AI cannot fully replace human judges' understanding of law, sentiment, and policy. She advocates for detailed guidelines on AI use in judicial processes.

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What Happened When

December 2022：: The Supreme People’s Court issued its Opinions on Regulating and Strengthening the Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Judicial Field, explicitly setting the 'principle of assistive trials.'

March 9, 2026：: Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun delivered a work report at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, emphasizing the need for steady and prudent AI-assisted trial system development and maintaining the assistive role of AI.

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