The Rules Committee of the Senior Courts of Belize has paved the way for AI - artificial intelligence - to make it into Belizean courtrooms. The committee has issued Practice Direction No. 18 of 2025, "setting out the ethical and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in court proceedings. The guidelines apply to Judges, Magistrates, Registrars, Attorneys-at-Law, and all court users, providing clear parameters for how AI tools - particularly generative AI - may be used in legal research, document drafting, and court submissions.
It stresses that while AI can enhance efficiency and access to justice, users must remain vigilant to ensure accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability. The directive makes it clear that AI-generated content must be verified and disclosed where used, and that human responsibility for all court filings remains paramount.
With this step, Belize joins a growing list of jurisdictions - and becomes one of the first in the Commonwealth Caribbean - to formally regulate the use of AI in judicial processes.
