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European Ethical Charter on the use of artificial intelligence in judicial systems and their environment

European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, Council of Europe

last revised 2018-12-04last verified 2026-09-041 versioncountry page →

GuidanceIn forcePermissiveRisk classification

map categories:Judges' use of AICourts' own AI deploymentAI barred from deciding casesVendor due diligence

Adopted by CEPEJ on 3-4 December 2018, the Charter sets five principles for AI in judicial systems: respect for fundamental rights, non-discrimination, quality and security, transparency, impartiality and fairness, and use under user control. It is addressed to policy makers, legislators and justice professionals and underpins CEPEJ's later assessment tool and generative-AI guidelines.

Applies to
judges, court-staff, providers, all
Effective
04 Dec 2018
Current version
Adopted at the 31st plenary · 04 Dec 2018
Last verified
04 Sept 2026
Official text
rm.coe.int/ethical-charter-en-for-publication-4-december-2018/16808f69…

What the document requires

  • Respect for fundamental rights: AI design and use must be compatible with the ECHR and data-protection law.
  • Non-discrimination: prevent development or intensification of discrimination between individuals or groups.
  • Quality and security: certified sources, multidisciplinary models, secure technological environment.
  • Transparency, impartiality and fairness: processing methods must be accessible and understandable, with external audits authorised.
  • Under user control: users must be informed actors in control of their choices; a judge may depart from AI output at any time.

Version history

VersionDateWhat changedSource
Adopted at the 31st plenarycurrent2018-12-04First version recorded.official

Sources

Cite this record

SafeLegalAI Legal AI Regulation Tracker, "European Ethical Charter on the use of artificial intelligence in judicial systems and their environment" (European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, Council of Europe, Adopted at the 31st plenary, 2018-12-04), safelegalai.com/regulation/international/int-cepej-european-ethical-charter-ai-judicial-systems (accessed 2026-09-04). Data: CC BY 4.0.

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