When a lawyer messes up by using an AI platform that produces mistakes, they might get sanctioned by a judge. When a judge messes up using an AI platform, “it could become precedent. So, it’s a much different conversation.” Judge Scott Schlegel, of Louisiana’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, speaks from his experience as an early leader in courtroom efficiency. Today, he supports a measured judicial approach to AI with this guiding principle: “It’s not our job to be first. It’s our job to get it right.” Tune in to this conversation with hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to hear about his newer project: the Judicial AI Consortium (JAIC), which he is developing with U.S. Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell of Colorado and Judge Xavier Rodriguez of the Western District of Texas. The consortium is designed to be a simple forum where judges can “ask stupid questions, talk to each other about how you’re using it, what you’re seeing out there. Is it helpful? Is it useful? How far should we go?” About 200 judges around the country have signed up so far.
Listen to or watch the episode through the players below.
Click on the links below to access a specific part of the video.
- 0:00 Introduction & Meet Judge Scott Schlegel
- 0:58 From Financial Advisor to Judge
- 1:30 Modernizing Courts with Simple Technology
- 3:21 Using Zoom in Court Before the Pandemic
- 7:07 What Changes Actually Stuck After He Left
- 11:13 Why Efficiency Improves Fairness in Court
- 13:52 Transition to the Appellate Bench & Tech Evolution
- 20:43 The Judicial AI Consortium (JAIC) Explained
- 29:09 Why New AI Rules for Lawyers May Be a Mistake
- 39:25 “The Right Human in the Loop” (AI & Judgment)
- 44:28 Why AI Should NOT Write First Drafts for Judges
- 48:12 How Lawyers Should Actually Use AI in Practice
- 50:32 Final Takeaway: “We’ve Been Here Before” with New Tech
Connect and Learn More
☑️ Judge Scott Schlegel | LinkedIn
☑️ United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X
☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X
☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram
☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC
☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn
☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
Produced and Powered by LawPods.
Sponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and Proceed (formerly Counsel Press).
Help others discover the podcast.
If the show has helped you, please subscribe, share, or consider leaving a 5-star review to help others find it too.
Need help? Here’s a quick guide.