How AI is Accelerating the Delivery of Justice in Ogun State
Earlier this year, the Ogun State Judiciary adopted Intron Sahara voice AI to alleviate the burdens of manual note-taking during court proceedings, allowing judges to focus entirely on the dialogue in the courtroom, enhancing attention, accuracy, and speed. Sahara has significantly reduced session times, enabling more cases to be heard and expediting the delivery of justice.
This marks a significant engagement for Intron. We met with the Judiciary of Ogun State to gain direct insights into how our Speech-to-Text (STT) solution is transforming the delivery of justice. The feedback received highlighted the profound impact of this technology.
For decades, courtrooms have contended with challenges including lengthy proceedings, slow processes, and judges managing substantial workloads. A particularly demanding task has been manual note-taking, where judges transcribe proceedings by hand. This practice contributes to delays in justice delivery, professional fatigue, operational inefficiency, and potential health concerns.
The implementation of Intron’s STT system is rapidly changing this dynamic. Leveraging integrated audio recording, file upload capabilities, and our intelligent transcription platform, the operational pace within the courtroom has significantly improved. Proceedings that historically required four hours (typically 9 AM to 1 PM) are now concluding within 2-3 hours (9 AM to 12 noon). This efficiency gain enables judges to manage more cases within their bench time, enhances productivity for legal practitioners, and results in more focused and effective proceedings.
Observations from legal professionals underscore this transformation. One individual commented: “My Lord is no longer required to write during proceedings. The focus is now entirely on the content being discussed, ensuring accurate recording, and we are achieving substantially more within significantly reduced timelines.”
Another stated: “Previously, meticulous manual transcription was necessary. It was both exhausting and time-consuming. Now, we can concentrate on the fundamental objective — justice.”
A particularly insightful perspective came from a judge, who noted: “Had Intron been initially developed with the legal system in mind, rather than healthcare, our progress would have likely been faster. The legal sector demonstrates a greater readiness to adopt advanced technologies than is often perceived.”
This engagement provides a clear view of the future of justice, where technology serves to empower professionals, mitigate burnout, and expedite outcomes without compromising due process. It envisions a future where professional well-being, operational efficiency, and justice delivery are seamlessly integrated.
We extend our gratitude to the judges, clerks, and legal professionals in Ogun State for their openness and forward-thinking approach. Our work extends beyond transcription; we are contributing to the evolution of justice delivery in Nigeria and beyond. Intron is honored to be a participant in this transformation. This represents an important initial step.
