Is society ready to accept legal decisions made by an algorithm?

Mauricio Figureroa is joined by Anca Radu, Tomas McInerney and Cari Hyde-Vaamonde to discuss the implications of AI on judicial decision making and spotlight where algorithms are already making an impact.

The Panel:

Mauricio Figueroa in an early career researcher that has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on digital technology law; taught university courses on Contract Law, Introduction to Legal Theory, and Alternative Dispute Resolution; and delivered keynote lectures on Information Technology Law at Higher Education Institutions in India, Argentina, and Mexico, and was invited to address lawmakers at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as an expert in AI regulation. He has also been a panellist at Law and Technology events in Spain, Mexico, and London. His research and insights have been featured in media outlets like ABP News (India), ABC News (Australia), Azteca Noticias (Mexico), and El Clarín (Argentina).

Tomás McInerney is a Lecturer in Law and Technology at Queen’s University Belfast. He completed his PhD in early 2024 on When Should a Computer Decide? Judicial Decision-making in the Age of Automation, exploring the limits of AI in judicial contexts. His postdoc at UCL Faculty of Laws examined trade-offs in optimising Large Language Models. Forthcoming work includes a chapter in a research handbook (preprint online) and a contribution to an edited volume on Epistemic Injustice, analysing how the process of constructing Large Language Models can embed injustice in the technology. His doctoral research is being developed into a monograph.

Anca Radu is a doctoral researcher in Law at the European University Institute, where she examines legal and ethical questions around the design, development, and deployment of AI systems in the judiciary. She is also a Teaching Assistant at the School of Transnational Governance, EUI. Besides her academic activities, she collaborates with international organizations on AI policy and regulation. She currently acts as an independent Scientific Expert for the Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice and for the UNESCO. As a former Lawyer within the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, she has solid human rights expertise.

Cari Hyde-Vaamonde is a lawyer, former court advocate, and academic specialising in the intersection of law, technology, and artificial intelligence. Cari focuses on the integration of emerging technologies into legal systems and their impact on processes and decision-making. Currently, she is engaged in interdisciplinary research at King’s College London, working with experts in mathematics and computer science to explore AI audit methodologies and address the ethical and regulatory challenges of implementing AI across sectors, including criminal justice and healthcare. Supported by a competitive UKRI award, Cari’s doctoral research examines how algorithmic decision-making affects the legitimacy of court systems. She has published on AI’s societal impacts, including in AI and Society, and has led policy-focused initiatives such as the "Generative AI in Legal Education" project, integrating tools like prompt engineering as part of efforts to prepare legal professionals for the challenges of emerging technologies. As a Visiting Lecturer and Module Leader in AI, Law, and Society, she has designed and delivered postgraduate curricula for a cohort of over 200 students, bridging the gap between complex technical concepts and legal application. Cari’s MERCY initiative, recognized with a Law Impact Award at King’s College London, uses innovative methods like visual art to communicate the implications of algorithmic justice. As co-convener of the Innovations in Judging research network and a regular speaker at internat