AI tells lawyers how judges are likely to rule

AI tools are set to turn the art of judicial forum shopping — where plaintiffs seek out favourable courts and judges — into a precision science.

An AI-powered database that draws on the biographical details and decision history of judges to predict how they will rule is helping lawyers and plaintiffs decide how to invest their time and resources in civil cases.

The database covers all state and federal civil litigation cases but is not intended to predict the outcomes of criminal cases and jury trials.

Why it matters: 

• Litigation is expensive, and AI tools have the potential to reshape which cases are funded and make it to court.

• Widespread use of AI predictions could reduce the number of cases taken to court — especially by plaintiff attorneys working on commission. That might reduce court backlogs while also shifting disputes to alternative resolution forums.

Source: Axios