Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Marvic Leonen said human judgment must remain central to the administration of justice as the judiciary rolls out digital and artificial intelligence (AI) reforms.
Speaking during a capacity-building seminar for regional court managers on March 17 at the Philippine Judicial Academy in Tagaytay City, Leonen said technology should support — not replace — judicial decision-making.
In a lecture on the eCourt system and the judiciary’s AI governance framework, Leonen distinguished between digitalization and AI. He said digitalization involves converting paper-based court records into accessible digital data, while AI entails more complex data analysis that requires stricter safeguards.
The judiciary, he said, is adopting an “augmented intelligence” approach, where AI tools assist human judgment rather than supplant it.
Leonen said ongoing reforms are guided by the judiciary’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027, which aims to modernize court processes and improve service delivery.
He noted that digital systems allow real-time monitoring of case progress and court workloads, reducing the need for additional reporting and enabling judges to focus on adjudication.
Digitization has also shortened delays in handling appeals, with tasks such as collating pleadings and transmitting records now done electronically in significantly less time, subject to human review.
Leonen added that videoconferencing has expanded access to justice, particularly for litigants in remote areas who would otherwise need to travel for hearings.
However, he warned of cybersecurity risks tied to digital systems, citing issues such as improper password sharing and misuse of official devices, and called for stricter compliance with security protocols.
Leonen also said the shift to digital processes is not meant to displace court personnel but to equip them with new skills.
“Technology must serve as a tool to enhance — not replace — judicial discretion and the administration of justice,” he said.
The senior magistrate reiterated the same message during a March 25 orientation with trial court judges in Cebu City, where he discussed the judiciary’s digitalization efforts and AI use under the same reform program.
