ZAMBIA – On 7 April 2026, the Chandler Institute of Justice (CIJ) was honoured to attend the Law Association of Zambia's Bar-Bench Conference in Livingstone, at the invitation of the Judiciary of Zambia. CIJ presented a paper on The Ethical Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Judicial and Legal Practice, contributing to what proved to be a rare and defining conversation for Zambia's justice system.

A Conversation the Continent Is Watching

It is not often that judges and lawyers share one room outside of court proceedings, free to speak candidly about where the justice system is headed. The Bar-Bench Conference creates exactly that space, and Zambia is demonstrating to the continent what transparent, courageous dialogue between the Bench and the Bar can look like. As Chief Justice Dr Mumba Malila SC reminded delegates, theirs is not an adversarial relationship but a shared calling: to let justice be done though the heavens fall.

CIJ's paper made the case that artificial intelligence is already reshaping legal practice globally, with the legal AI market projected to exceed 4 billion US dollars by 2027.

Africa has a genuine opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems and expand access to justice. But the risks are equally real: over 200 documented cases of AI-generated hallucinations in court proceedings, the persistence of algorithmic bias, and the danger of eroding judicial independence through opaque decision-making tools. Navigating this landscape requires not just awareness but structured, principled governance frameworks.

Where We Go from Here

CIJ's participation in the Zambia Bar–Bench Conference, together with our ongoing collaboration with the Judiciary of Zambia and the Law Association of Zambia, has reinforced our commitment to supporting the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into justice systems across Africa.

These engagements have further strengthened our resolve to develop an AI Governance Policy Framework for African Justice Systems, a practical framework that will equip judiciaries, bar associations, law reform institutions, and other justice sector stakeholders with structured guidance for the ethical, transparent, accountable, and human-centred adoption of AI.

Zambia has demonstrated both the vision and the commitment to embrace innovation while safeguarding the fundamental principles of justice. CIJ is honoured to support that journey by working alongside institutions to ensure that technological advancement strengthens, rather than compromises, the rule of law and public confidence in the administration of justice.

Our sincere gratitude to the Law Association of Zambia, the Judiciary of Zambia, and every delegate who engaged with our paper. The quality of that dialogue is itself a sign of a justice system that is ready for this moment.

We, at CIJ hold the firm belief that AI will not replace judges and lawyers. But those who use AI wisely will replace those who do not.