Artificial Intelligence and Fair Trials: NSJU and the Asser Institute are developing new training initiatives for judges

How can artificial intelligence be used in the judicial process without infringing upon the fundamental human right to a fair trial? It is precisely around this issue that the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the Asser Institute are launching a new phase of cooperation, which will combine international expertise, modern digital technologies and the training of Ukrainian judges to meet new professional challenges.

To this end, on 14–15 July 2026, the National School of Judges of Ukraine held a series of working meetings with representatives of the Asser Institute (Netherlands), during which the parties identified promising areas for further cooperation in the field of judicial education.

The first meeting was chaired by the Vice-Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine, Nataliia Shuklina, together with a team of specialists from the School and representatives of the Asser Institute – legal adviser Victoria Kerr and junior researcher Dmytro Cherneha.

One of the key topics was a study visit to The Hague, scheduled for 16–20 November 2026, focusing on ensuring the right to a fair trial in cases related to armed conflict.

Participants also discussed the implementation of a specialised training programme for Ukrainian judges, developed by the Asser Institute. Discussions centred on the number of potential participants in the online course, the selection criteria for judges to take part in the study visit to the Netherlands, and the integration of the new programme into the training system of the National School of Judges of Ukraine.

The training course is aimed at judges at all levels who hear criminal cases, particularly those related to armed conflict, and who already possess a basic knowledge of international and European law.

The programme will be based on the ‘Handbook for Lawyers in Ukraine: Ensuring Fair Trial in Conflict-Related Cases’. The course will consist of eight self-study modules, combining compulsory and supplementary materials, practical exercises, and audio summaries for a quick overview of key topics.

The parties have also agreed on the next stages of the project’s implementation. Once the curriculum content has been finalised, the recording of audio and video lectures will begin, along with the creation of an interactive course on the Articulate 360 platform. The Asser Institute will provide the technical infrastructure for the course, whilst the National School of Judges of Ukraine will facilitate its implementation and promotion amongst Ukrainian judges.

The following day, the partners turned their attention to another challenge facing the modern justice system – the use of artificial intelligence in the work of the courts.

The talks were attended by Gabriele Chlevitskaite, Senior Researcher in International Criminal Law and Project Coordinator for MATRA-Ukraine 2025–2029 and ‘Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine’; Gabriela Radu, a legal researcher; and Anastasiia Sivash, a research intern.

The parties discussed the possibility of holding a series of training events for Ukrainian judges in various formats – both face-to-face and online – in late 2026 or early 2027.

Attention was also given to the training of judge-trainers and the creation of a separate online course on the use of artificial intelligence technologies, which will be hosted on the National School of Judges of Ukraine’s online learning platform.

To ensure that future training programmes are as closely aligned as possible with the practical needs of judges, the Asser Institute, in collaboration with the National School of Judges of Ukraine, will conduct a special survey of representatives of the judiciary. The results will help to identify the most pressing issues regarding the application of artificial intelligence in judicial practice and to take these into account when developing training courses.

Following the two meetings, the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the Asser Institute confirmed their readiness for further cooperation. Its main objective is to develop modern judicial education, enhance the digital skills of Ukrainian judges and introduce international approaches to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, whilst strictly adhering to the principles of a fair trial.