News

Sigita Jokimaitė, President of the Lithuanian Judges’ Association (LRTA) and Judge of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, has joined the European Association of Judges (EAJ) Working Group on Communication, while Marius Bartninkas, representing the LRTA and President of the Kaunas Regional Court, has been appointed Chair of the Working Group on Artificial Intelligence. Together with colleagues from other European countries, they will exchange experience and explore ways to improve court communication and ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the justice system.

Both working groups were established during the meeting of the International Association of Judges (IAJ), held in Lisbon on 15–20 October.

Sigita Jokimaitė Joins the European Association of Judges Working Group on Communication

Sigita Jokimaitė, President of the LRTA, has become a member of the European Association of Judges Working Group on Communication. Together with judges from other European countries, she will examine ways to communicate more effectively about the work of courts, exchange experience and address challenges arising in different countries.

Representatives of European judges’ associations have been discussing the need for a common communication strategy for some time. The aim is not only to share information, but also to examine how court communication is organised in different countries, what difficulties arise and which approaches have proved effective.

The Working Group presented the results of a survey of judges’ associations in 23 countries. The findings showed that only seven associations have a communication strategy, while just four employ dedicated in-house communication specialists. Most associations use websites, email, press releases and media interviews, but the use of social media, video content and other modern communication tools varies considerably.

Many associations lack the resources, practical training and professional support needed to manage communication during crises. Disinformation and attacks on social media pose additional challenges.

“It is important for European judges’ associations to be able to share experience and learn from one another. This would help identify more effective ways of explaining the work of courts and their decisions to the public, as well as improving preparedness for communication crises,” said S. Jokimaitė.

Marius Bartninkas Appointed Chair of the Working Group on Artificial Intelligence

Marius Bartninkas, representing the LRTA, has been appointed Chair of the European Association of Judges Working Group on Artificial Intelligence. Judges from 18 countries participate in the work of the group under his leadership.

Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI technologies, offers new opportunities for courts. It can assist in analysing legislation and case law, managing court proceedings and facilitating judges’ day-to-day work. At the same time, it raises important questions: how can judicial independence and the transparency of judicial decisions be safeguarded, and how can human accountability for the administration of justice be ensured?

“European and international institutions have already developed principles and guidelines for the use of AI. However, it is important to assess how these principles work in practice and what challenges judges face. This is precisely what the new Working Group will focus on.

The Group will seek to bring European judges together, discuss common challenges and develop a shared position on the use of artificial intelligence in courts. Above all, it is essential to ensure that new technologies do not undermine judicial independence or displace the fundamental role of human beings in the administration of justice,” M. Bartninkas explained.

International Cooperation Also Benefits Lithuanian Courts

The use of artificial intelligence in courts and communication with the public are areas undergoing rapid change. International cooperation provides an opportunity to learn from the experience of other countries, present Lithuanian practices and identify ideas that could be adapted for use in Lithuanian courts.

By participating in the European Association of Judges’ working groups, Lithuanian judges contribute to discussions on issues of importance to the entire European judicial community and to the development of common approaches.