Chinese software dishes out criminal court verdicts

Apparently our pals over in the Chinese judicial system are getting challenged by technology these days. No, they haven't invented lawyerbots yet (though some of the nursebots we've seen could wield a gavel), but they're getting closer. A new software app implemented in the Zichuan District Court in China's Shangdong province, gives suggestions on "proper verdicts" in criminal cases. This software is apparently going to be used to curb the problem that some Chinese judges have become too subjective, undertrained, and in many cases, corrupt. Maybe in the US we could speed up our own backlog of judicial proceedings simply by outsourcing our judges to China, too. We're sure that would go over well with our litigious society -- we can smell the briefs being drafted already.

[Via The Register]

[Jawknee @ Sep 13th 2006 7:03PM]

Would this porgram just look up verdicts of similar cases in the past and suggest that verdict to the judge? That's how I'd assume it works.

[Hello Moto @ Sep 13th 2006 7:14PM]

"Would this porgram just look up verdicts of similar cases in the past and suggest that verdict to the judge? That's how I'd assume it works."

I am assuming that it will look up old cases and compare factors, but I think using this software is a horrible idea, they are just admitting they cannot fix their problems.

ON THE OTHER HAND the software should be both fair and consistant, so maybe people won't get off for horrible lies or pleads of insanity.

[Dave @ Sep 13th 2006 8:09PM]

We should look to China for innovations such as these. All we'd have to do is completely ignore the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Also, maybe China could automate tanks so that, the next time there's an uprising of the citizenry, they don't have to ask a human soldier to run over anybody standing in the way of Chinese "justice".

[OPTICAL OUT PLEASE @ Sep 13th 2006 8:56PM]

Its probably randomly picks from a list of verdicts; even that would be more fair than their current system.

[Dave @ Sep 13th 2006 8:59PM]

It's just an RNG that picks either 0 or 1, which 0 being not guilty.

[genexk @ Sep 13th 2006 9:07PM]

there's no such place as Shangdong province in China

[D @ Sep 13th 2006 9:37PM]

Very interesting. I like it strictly for academic study purposes (i.e. criminal justice). It could also be very helpful to jury selection consultants, the media during wedding cake trials, and maybe even as a argument during appeals. Saying that, I hope they decide against using this software as the primary judge during cases.

[makelle @ Sep 13th 2006 10:16PM]

Of course it's only comparing previous verdicts to similar cases. This is how it's done by U.S. lawyers using rulings from former cases of x vs. y to juxtaposition the case at hand.

Considering the the case of the present U.S. administration who e g denies prisonners the right to a fair trial, one must understand that the paradigm of an impartial jurisdiction and the infallability of the courts are mere myths.

Of course chineese leaders who are 'also' quite aware that having the power to mess with Human Rights and the inclination to act accordingly will never cause them any problems.

Human beings are deprived of Human Rights not only directly by U.S. and chineese leaders but also through decisions made in U.N.


A computer program wouldn't treat these leaders differently were they to be tried for their deeds!

[granny down east @ Sep 13th 2006 11:59PM]

smell the briefs, eh? I'd say that stinks.

[Finished.Law.School @ Sep 14th 2006 1:25AM]

They definitely need this in the US.

[The Doctor @ Sep 14th 2006 9:10AM]

Ah, the Megara. Justice Machines. Judge, Jury and Executioner. Once upon a time they found their creators in contempt, and well... destroyed them.