The courtroom of the future is already here—it is digital, dynamic, and demanding.
The rise of technology has reshaped courtroom operations—online hearings, digital evidence presentation, and even virtual reality are reshaping how trials unfold. These tools make justice more efficient and accessible, but they also demand caution, security, and ethical vigilance, as well as questions of fairness and accuracy.
The Virtual Courtroom Revolution
The COVID-19 pandemic forced courts to adopt remote technology almost overnight. Platforms like Zoom and Webex became substitutes for physical courtrooms, allowing hearings, depositions, and trials to continue without much interruption.
However, this shift came with unexpected benefits. Virtual hearings made it easier for witnesses, experts, and litigants to participate without traveling long distances. Expert witnesses could now testify from across the country, saving time and costs, while also keeping dockets moving during uncertain times. For many people in rural areas or with mobility challenges, remote access actually improved access to justice.
On the other hand, virtual courtrooms are not without their limitations. Some participants lack reliable internet connectivity, appropriate devices, familiarity with the technology, or private spaces to appear. Judges and lawyers have also noticed how difficult it could be to evaluate credibility when seeing a witness only through a webcam. Remember the lawyer who proclaimed “I’m not a cat” while stuck on a Zoom filter of a cat? This incident should be a lesson that technology may also inject chaos when you least expect it.
Even as in-person trials return, virtual hearings are likely to remain a permanent fixture, especially for routine matters.
E-Discovery: The Digital Paper Trail
E-discovery is the process of collecting, reviewing, and sharing digital information—such as emails, texts, documents, and metadata—as evidence in legal cases.
E-discovery platforms, like Relativity, Everlaw, and CS Disco, give lawyers the ability to filter massive datasets, sort documents by metadata, and apply advanced search functions. AI-driven predictive coding helps prioritize which documents are most likely to be relevant, saving time and reducing costs.
Metadata—information about information, like authorship, timestamps, and file history—have also become critical evidence. In some cases, metadata can reveal where a document was created, who accessed it, and whether it was altered.
E-discovery is not without risks. The sheer scale of digital data can be overwhelming, and mistakes in review can lead to missing critical evidence. Over-reliance on automated tools may also introduce bias or errors. Still, e-discovery has become indispensable in modern litigation, fundamentally reshaping how cases are built and argued in court.
Artificial Intelligence in the Courtroom
Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most disruptive forces in modern legal practice.
AI is now present in the courtroom in multiple ways, from pre-trial prep to live hearings. AI research assistants now help lawyers quickly identify relevant cases, draft briefs, and summarize complex documents. Generative AI tools like Casetext’s, CoCounsel, Harvey AI, and Westlaw Edge offer capabilities such as contract analysis, audio or video transcription, and outline trial strategy.
During trial, AI can also support evidence presentation. Generative AI tools are being explored for creating visuals, graphics, and reconstructions to help jurors understand complex facts. These advances promise significant benefits, including time savings, increased accuracy, and improved clarity in presenting evidence.
Despite its resourcefulness, AI also brings serious risks. There have already been instances of lawyers citing non-existent cases generated by AI systems, exposing the dangers of “hallucinations.” Judges and ethics committees have responded. The American Bar Association and state bars, including California, have stressed that lawyers must understand the limitations of AI tools and disclose their use when appropriate.
Ultimately, AI use in the courtroom is best understood as an assistant. It can streamline legal tasks and enhance trial presentations, but human judgment remains essential to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Balancing Promise and Responsibility
Technology in the courtroom has moved far beyond projectors and PowerPoint slides. Virtual court proceedings, e-discovery, and AI illustrate how technology can make trials more efficient, evidence more accessible, and arguments more persuasive. But they also create possible vulnerabilities—whether it’s unequal access to digital platforms, the potential for data breaches in discovery, or over-reliance on AI outputs.
Courts and lawyers must balance innovation with responsibility. Embracing technology requires a commitment to ethical vigilance and adhering to cybersecurity safeguards. The courtroom of the future will undoubtedly be more digital, but its core mission remains the same: delivering justice that is clear, accessible, and reliable.
