The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (the Courts) will host a roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence and the courts, bringing together leaders from the judiciary and academia, including representatives from Melbourne Law School and the National University of Singapore.
The roundtable, to be held on Thursday, 10 September 2026 in Melbourne, follows an earlier roundtable held in March 2026 by Melbourne Law School and National University of Singapore. This second gathering expands the conversation to courts and federal tribunals nationally, including the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Victoria, Supreme Court of Queensland, Supreme Court of South Australia, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Supreme Court of Western Australia, Fair Work Commission, Administrative Review Tribunal, Supreme Court of Tasmania, ACT Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
The roundtable will move beyond identifying the challenges and opportunities presented by AI to examine the practical responses available to courts as leaders of the justice system. Courts must balance opportunities to improve efficiency and accessibility with their duty to safeguard the rule of law.
Discussions will focus on the tasks judges perform, the legitimacy of AI in assisting those tasks, and how courts can maintain public confidence, procedural fairness and judicial independence while responding to rapid technological change. Sessions will consider the external impact of AI on court users and the legal profession, the increasing use of AI by court users without legal representation, and the circumstances in which AI may appropriately support the judicial function and access to justice.
The Honourable Chief Justice Will Alstergren AO said the collaboration reflected the Courts’ and tribunals national commitment to engaging thoughtfully and proactively with emerging technology:
"As AI reshapes the environment in which courts operate, we have a responsibility to respond deliberately, strongly embracing the opportunities it offers to improve access to justice and efficiency, while safeguarding the principles of judicial independence, procedural fairness and public confidence that underpin our justice system. Bringing together the judiciary and leading academics from across our region ensures we approach these questions in an informed and practical way. Collaborating with other courts and sharing learnings and resources where appropriate, helps to ensure a modern and robust justice system"
The roundtable will conclude with a facilitated discussion on future collaboration, including opportunities for ongoing cross-court knowledge sharing through a judicial community of practice on AI.
