Prisoners could find it cheaper and easier to appeal against their conviction or sentence under a new government pilot. It will test the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce court transcripts.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced the scheme on 14 April. It said the pilot aimed at “exploring how AI can provide court transcripts faster and at lower cost”. The department described the move as an example of the “use of tech to tear down costly barriers to transparency”.
At present, anyone who wants to appeal has to buy transcripts from companies that specialise in producing them. A short section of a hearing can cost hundreds of pounds. A transcript of a full trial can run to thousands.
Under the announcement, HM Courts & Tribunal Service will lead a research project. It will explore whether transcripts generated by AI can meet the accuracy standards that the courts require.
“The new study will explore how the MoJ’s in-house AI, Justice Transcribe, could meet required accuracy standards while reducing transcription time and costs,” an MoJ spokesperson said. The findings will inform national plans to modernise the court system and widen access to justice, the spokesperson added.
“By deploying AI in the courtroom, we can boost transparency and access to justice, building a modernised system that victims can rely on,” said Courts Minister Sarah Sackman KC.
The MoJ press release on the pilot concentrated on the prospect of cheaper transcripts for victims of crime. These are people who might want to read the record of a trial in which they took part. Appellants, and their need for affordable transcripts, did not feature.
An MoJ spokesperson said the pilot would only look at whether AI can produce accurate transcripts at a lower cost. The department had made no decisions on what victims or appellants would pay for transcripts produced by AI.
The government has previously announced a separate change for victims whose cases go through the Crown Court. From spring 2027, they will be able to request free transcripts of judges’ sentencing remarks.
