Quebec courts say generative AI cannot replace judges’ reasoning
The guidelines allow only limited support tasks and bar AI from legal reasoning, evidence review or drafting substantive parts of rulings.
- On Sept 5, 2026, Quebec courts issued new guidelines restricting judges' use of Generative AI, affirming that judging must remain a fundamentally human responsibility across the Quebec Court of Appeal, Superior Court, and Quebec Court.
- The move follows questions raised months ago after a decision contained non-existent case law, creating urgency within the Quebec judiciary to establish clear rules for the technology.
- Courts mandate that Generative AI cannot be used for substantive legal reasoning or assessing evidence, stating, "If the use of AI has the effect or purpose of determining the legal outcome... it must not be used."
- Judges remain fully responsible for their legal reasoning and accuracy; they must verify all AI-generated material, as "no error can be attributed to the tool used."
- Courts warn that existing tools rely on opaque algorithms and pose confidentiality risks; Until an authorized institutional system exists, Judges must ensure settings prevent information from being used to train the system.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Generative AI cannot replace judges' reasoning, say Quebec courts
The guidelines come months concerns were raised about whether a Quebec judge may have used generative AI in preparing a decision. The courts say there is currently no approved, secure institutional generative AI tool available to judges.
The Toronto Star
Quebec courts say generative AI cannot replace judges’ reasoning
MONTREAL - Quebec's courts have issued new guidelines restricting judges' use of generative artificial intelligence, stressing that judging must remain a fundamentally human responsibility.
Winnipeg Free Press
Quebec courts say generative AI cannot replace judges' reasoning
MONTREAL - Quebec's courts have issued new guidelines restricting judges' use of generative artificial intelligence, stressing that judging must remain a fundamentally human responsibility.
The courts of Quebec – the Court of Appeal, the Superior Court, the Court of Quebec and the Municipal Courts – have issued a series of guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in general, reaffirming that "the act of judging remains a fundamentally humane function, exercised exclusively by independent, responsible and accountable judges." The possibility that [...] The post Chief Justices issue strict guidelines to judges in the fac…
lemanic.ca
Le Nord-CôtierThe courts of Quebec – the Court of Appeal, the Superior Court, the Court of Quebec and the Municipal Courts – issued a series of guidelines on the use of general artificial intelligence (AI), reaffirming that "the act of judging remains a fundamentally humane function, exercised exclusively by independent, responsible and accountable judges." The possibility that [...]
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