The Law Show Folgen

Could Artificial Intelligence be used by judges in our courts - and even help make legal decisions?It's a technology that's already being adopted by legal systems in other parts of the world, including a court in the Chinese city of Shenzhen where it is has helped judges navigate over 600,000 small claims cases. Other countries are more cautious, and maintain that AI should never replace human judicial decisions. What are acceptable uses of AI in the judicial system, and what areas should be off limits? So far, in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, there have been AI pilots for legal administrative work and transcription services. In England and Wales, there are also plans for AI legal assistants to help with routine casework and help judges decide which cases are ready to be heard in court. It's an issue which has been considered by Sir Geoffrey Vos - the recently retired Master of the Rolls, Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales. He speaks to Joelle about his findings and how he thinks we the legal system could benefit from AI - and the areas he thinks should be off limits. Plus: is it illegal to buy the books of Irish author Sally Rooney, since she made public that she would like to donate her royalties to the proscribed group Palestine Action? The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, explains the law. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Contributors: Retired Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, former Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales Jonathan Hall KC, from 6KBW College Hill, the goverment's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation

So-called blitz courts are being expanded across England and Wales. A number of courts across the two countries have been holding regular blitz hearings since April. Multiple cases are heard every day instead of just one, and are grouped by type. A set of plea hearings might be scheduled together in one blitz court, and sentencing hearings at another. Blitz courts increase efficiency by making sure that all the parties concerned are ready and prepared for their day in court. They are not a new idea. Rapid hearings are sometimes used to speed up justice in exceptional circumstances, such as after the 2011 summer riots in England, which saw large numbers of public disorder hearings.It's part of plans by the Ministry of Justice to try to cut court delays and backlogs in England and Wales, which have reached record levels. But will they help ease the crisis in the criminal courts? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Ivana Davidovic Editor: Damon RoseContributors BBC news correspondent Adina Campbell Riel Karmy-Jones, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association Joanne Edwards, a solicitor from Forsters who's on the National Committee of Resolution, the Family Lawyers Association.

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 is in the King’s Speech which means it’s on the Government’s legislative agenda and is going through Parliament. The Bill covers parliamentary ballots cross the UK, and contains sweeping changes, including giving 16 and 17 year-olds the right to vote in a general election and referendums.The Bill also aims to strengthen the rules around political donations. Giving money to a political party is completely legal, if you are on the UK electoral register, are a UK registered company or UK-registered organisation, but is there a limit on the size of your contribution? Can you be an anonymous donor or pay in cryptocurrency? How are the laws about political party funding being tightened up? And what about individual MPs? Are they allowed to receive personal donations, and do they have to declare them?Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Ivana Davidovic Editor: Damon RoseContributors: Dr Sam Power, Lecturer at Bristol University, and an expert in political financing, electoral regulation and corruption. Hannah Perry, Interim Director of Demos Digital, a cross-party pro-democracy think tank Joanne Wheeler, Managing Partner at Alden legal, and a leading international expert in the field of satellite and space law.