THE INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO THE WORK OF COURTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

Abstract

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial work and its express recognition in the Regulation on the Organisation and Functioning of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Moldova raise questions concerning the limits of technological assistance and the protection of procedural rights. This article examines the opportunities, risks and conditions for integrating AI into the work of Moldovan courts. The research combines documentary analysis, literal, systematic and teleological legal interpretation, and functional comparison of foreign judicial practices. The findings indicate that the permissibility of AI use depends on the function performed and its actual influence on proceedings. Authorisation and formal human oversight are insufficient without effective verification, appropriate disclosure and safeguards preserving judicial independence, adversarial proceedings and reasoned decisions. The article’s original contribution lies in translating general European safeguards into proposed operational requirements for implementing Article 30 of the Regulation. These include authorisation for specified functions and data categories, verification against original sources, disclosure proportionate to procedural relevance, and incident reporting and remediation. The study supports gradual implementation through controlled testing and evaluation while retaining judicial responsibility for adjudication.