Scaling Laws The Honorable AI? Shlomo Klapper Talks Judicial Use of AI
Jan 20, 2026
Shlomo Klapper, founder of Learned Hand, brings a unique perspective on integrating AI into the judicial system. He discusses how the platform aids overworked judges by automating repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on critical judgments. Shlomo highlights AI's potential to improve access to justice, especially for unrepresented litigants, while addressing concerns about biases and fact-checking. He also touches on the readiness of state trial courts for early adoption and the necessity of building trust in AI tools within the legal arena.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Judges Face Severe Capacity Constraints
- Most state judges lack dedicated clerks and handle huge caseloads alone.
- Learned Hand frames AI as decision support to boost judges' capacity, not replace them.
Court Workflows Are Fragile Queues
- Courts operate as queuing systems where small increases in filings cause large delays.
- A surge in AI-assisted filings could catastrophically amplify backlogs without judicial productivity gains.
Design Tools To Free Judges' Time
- Design AI to assist judges with 'judge work' and remove 'grudge work' like sifting facts.
- Build tools that augment judicial judgment and keep the human firmly in control.