Arizona Supreme Court Goes Digital: AI Avatars Now Deliver Rulings Online

Justice gets a tech upgrade—Arizona's highest court unleashes AI avatars to read rulings. No more dry legal documents; now you get a digital judge breaking it down for you.

Subheading: Robo-Justice or Just a Gimmick?

The move promises efficiency, but skeptics wonder if it’s just another shiny distraction—like blockchain solutions searching for a problem. (Bonus jab: At least these avatars won’t charge you billable hours.)

Active, human, and slightly cynical—just how we like our news.

TLDRs:

• Arizona becomes the first state to deliver Supreme Court rulings using AI avatars.
• The avatars, named Daniel and Victoria, present verdicts in video format on the court’s website.
• Judges still write every word, with staff ensuring accuracy before release.
• Officials stress this is not generative AI and will not replace human judgment.

The Arizona Supreme Court has introduced a futuristic twist to its public communication strategy, unveiling AI avatars to read judicial decisions online. Instead of traditional press releases or human spokespeople, the court’s rulings now appear in video form, delivered by lifelike avatars named Daniel and Victoria.

Designed to resemble real people, the avatars are part of an effort to bring clarity and accessibility to legal announcements in an era when digital media is the public’s primary news source.

Efficiency Without Losing the Human Touch

Alberto Rodriguez, the court’s communications director, is leading the initiative. He emphasizes that the avatars are tools, not replacements. According to Rodriguez, each video still requires human oversight. The bench writes the scripts, and his team verifies everything before it’s published. The videos, which once took hours to produce, are now completed in minutes, saving valuable time while ensuring the public stays informed. Despite fears of automation displacing workers, Rodriguez remains confident that human judgment and communication skills remain indispensable.

Daniel and Victoria are the newest computer-generated faces of the Arizona Supreme Court as part of an effort to innovate how justice is communicated to the public. https://t.co/IHeZamSWQN

— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 29, 2025

Guardrails Around AI in the Courtroom

Arizona’s Chief Justice Ann Timmer has been clear about the boundaries. She says the avatars are not powered by generative AI. Their role is purely to deliver messages created by the justices themselves. This distinction matters, especially at a time when misuse of AI is drawing criticism across the legal field. Timmer hopes this innovation not only educates the public but also restores confidence in a justice system increasingly questioned in the digital age.

“If people don’t believe the courts are doing their job, it doesn’t matter how hard we work.” She says.

Broader AI Concerns

Arizona’s MOVE comes at a time when other jurisdictions are grappling with AI-related missteps. Across the country, courts have been inundated with filings containing citations to fake cases, often the result of attorneys relying on generative AI without proper review.

Sanctions have followed, with judges in states like Indiana and California fining lawyers and firms for submitting briefs laced with hallucinated case law. These incidents have sparked national debate about the ethical and professional responsibilities of lawyers using AI tools. The American Bar Association has even warned that failing to fact-check AI output may breach an attorney’s duty of competence.

Against this backdrop, Arizona’s cautious and controlled approach offers a sharp contrast. By using non-generative AI that merely reads prewritten content, the state is signaling a commitment to transparency without sacrificing accuracy. Chief Justice Timmer reassures the public that AI will not be making legal judgments or drafting opinions.