Berlin’s judicial system is facing a significant staffing challenge, projected to lose approximately six percent of its workforce – roughly 600 employees – over the coming years due to retirements. This decline is compounded by increasing difficulty in attracting new talent to the sector.
In response, Berlin’s Justice Senator Felor Badenberg (CDU) is actively exploring and implementing artificial intelligence solutions to support the court system’s operations. Several AI-powered tools are already in use, including the streamlining of document organization and case file structuring.
A collaborative effort with Lower Saxony has resulted in the development of “Emil” an AI tool designed to assist judges in asylum proceedings. Emil compiles and synthesizes information about countries of origin, replacing the previously laborious process of searching numerous databases. The system functions as a central chatbot, providing structured summaries of extensive research findings. “This simplifies the understanding of the case background for judicial decision-making” Senator Badenberg stated.
However, the Justice Senator emphasized that AI serves as a support mechanism, underlining the critical importance of human oversight within the legal system. “Decisions within our rule of law are made by people and that must remain the case” she affirmed. The implemented technologies are intended solely as assistance tools, not replacements for judicial decisions. “It is paramount that judges, not algorithms, remain the sole decision-makers.
The staffing situation is described as tense, particularly amidst broader demographic shifts impacting the applicant pool. Berlin’s judicial system employs around 10,500 personnel, supplemented by approximately 2,000 trainees. Competition for qualified candidates is intensifying, with the judicial sector vying for talent against both the private sector and federal agencies within the capital city.