Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr. stated that while technological advancements in the legal profession are welcome, human elements like passion, empathy, and a moral compass remain an enduring advantage. In his keynote speech at the San Beda Law Grand Alumni Homecoming in Taguig City, Kho highlighted judicial reforms under the Supreme Court's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations, including court process digitalization. He stressed that technology cannot replace human judgment and compassion essential for justice.
In his keynote address on Friday in Taguig City, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr. addressed the balance between technology and humanity in the judiciary. Under the Supreme Court's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations, reforms such as digitalizing court processes aim to streamline services. However, Kho emphasized that machines cannot provide the judgment, compassion, and ethical responsibility vital for fair justice administration.
"You can teach a computer the law, but you cannot teach it judgment. You cannot teach it compassion," he said. He recognized the expanding role of artificial intelligence in lawyers' tasks but maintained that their core roles would not diminish.
"Don’t ever let technology diminish the humanity you bring to the law," Kho added. A San Beda College of Law graduate with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1991, he placed 10th in that year's Bar examinations. His perspective underscores the need for legal professionals to preserve empathy amid digital transformations.
