AI Avatars Aim to Bring Supreme Court Decisions to the Public

On The Docket project uses AI to generate visual representations of justices delivering rulings, raising questions about authenticity and transparency.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new project called On The Docket is leveraging artificial intelligence to create visual representations of Supreme Court justices delivering their rulings, potentially ushering in a new era of public access to these crucial moments. While the court has historically resisted efforts to increase transparency, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to some shifts, including live broadcasts of oral arguments. On The Docket's AI-generated avatars aim to take this further by allowing the public to witness decision announcements, which have traditionally been confined to the courtroom. However, the use of this technology raises complex questions about authenticity and the role of technology in shaping perceptions of the judicial process.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court has long been resistant to increasing public access, with a history of blocking efforts to broadcast or record its proceedings. On The Docket's use of AI represents a significant step forward in transparency, potentially allowing more citizens to witness the court's most pivotal moments. However, the ethical considerations around the use of this technology, such as ensuring the public understands the visuals are AI-generated, will be crucial in maintaining trust and legitimacy.

The details

On The Docket utilizes AI to generate avatars of the Supreme Court justices, lip-synced to existing audio recordings of the justices delivering their rulings and any accompanying dissents. The project team faced early challenges in making the avatars appear realistic, but ultimately opted for a slightly cartoonized aesthetic and clear labeling to distinguish the AI-generated visuals from reality. The goal is to provide public access to these crucial moments, which have traditionally been confined to the courtroom itself.

  • The Supreme Court began taping its proceedings in 1955, but the recordings were initially kept secret.
  • In 1996, the Oyez project launched to provide audio of court proceedings dating back to 1955.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic forced the court to broadcast oral arguments live, a shift that has persisted even after the pandemic subsided.
  • On The Docket is the latest initiative aimed at increasing public access to the Supreme Court's proceedings.

The players

Jerry Goldman

A professor at Northwestern University who launched the Oyez project in 1996 to provide audio of court proceedings.

Timothy R. Johnson

A professor at the University of Minnesota and a key architect of the On The Docket project.

Peter Irons

A law professor who published oral arguments based on secretly recorded tapes in the early 1990s, leading to a lawsuit from the Supreme Court (which was later dropped).

On The Docket

A project that uses AI to generate visual representations of Supreme Court justices delivering their rulings and dissents.

United States Courts

The official website of the federal judiciary, which provides information about the Supreme Court's procedures and history.

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What they’re saying

“Since it's public in the courtroom, it should be public for everybody.”

— Jerry Goldman, Professor, Northwestern University (NPR)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Supreme Court's resistance to increasing transparency suggests that On The Docket's initiative is likely to face skepticism, if not outright opposition, from the court. However, as AI technology continues to evolve, you can expect to see even more sophisticated methods for enhancing public access to the judicial process, such as AI-powered tools for translating complex legal arguments into plain language or virtual reality experiences that allow citizens to 'attend' oral arguments remotely.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's reluctance to embrace transparency is increasingly at odds with the demands of a digital age. Projects like On The Docket demonstrate that innovative solutions exist to bridge the gap between the court and the public, but the court's history of resisting such efforts suggests that the path to greater openness will not be an easy one. The ethical considerations around the use of AI in this context will be crucial in maintaining trust and legitimacy as technology continues to shape our understanding of the judicial process.