DeploymentCognitive automation2025-04-14
A private Copilot Chat tool was made available on judicial office holders' devices, the judiciary of England and Wales said in April 2025
Judge / magistrateoccupation page →Event date / reported
2025-04-14
Evidence stage
DeploymentAn employer has put it into production. Can move the baseline — weighted by scale and how similar the setting is.
Tasks this bears on
Drafting judgments and orders
Writing reasons, orders and summaries that the parties and appeal courts will read.
Being augmented✓ Evidence-backed
Where this applies
England and Wales. The refreshed guidance introduces a private AI tool, Microsoft's Copilot Chat, which is now available on judicial office holders' devices through eJudiciary, and applies to judicial office holders, their clerks and judicial assistants. It says the tool is available; it gives no figures on use, and the October 2025 version of the guidance no longer has that section.
What this means
AI reached the judge's own desk through the judiciary itself, as an approved private tool.
What it does not yet show
Availability, not use; the later guidance no longer mentions the tool.
What you can check
Open the April 2025 refreshed AI Guidance for Judicial Office Holders and find "now available on judicial office holders’ devices".
Does it change the assessment?
No. The impact index is never moved by a single event. Nor did this record change a layer: all 1 linked judgement above already rested on earlier evidence. This one adds to them.
Source
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (England and Wales) — Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidance for Judicial Office Holders, refreshed (14 April 2025) · verified 2026-09-30 · Claude (VOLO agent) · interpreted 2026-09-30 · Claude (VOLO agent)
Primary source — published by the party that did this, or the authority of record. No co-signature needed.