On December 9, 2024, Legal Services of New Jersey presented the latest webinar in its Melville “De” Miller, Jr., Justice Series, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Access to Justice in New Jersey. The Melville “De” Miller Justice Series is free, open to the general public, and created in honor of LSNJ’s founder, De Miller. The programs are designed to highlight areas of broad social and legal justice that have an impact on the low-income community in New Jersey—from new advocacy or government initiatives to specific issues or areas of law.
The panel was moderated by LSNJ Senior Vice President Akil Roper. Panelists included Laks Kattalai, chief information officer of the New Jersey Judiciary Administrative Office of the Courts, Jessica Lewis Kelly, Esq., special assistant to the administrative director of the New Jersey Judiciary Administrative Office of the Courts, Jennifer Sellitti, Esq., public defender of the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, Trish Perlmutter, Esq., associate director for Policy, Outreach, and Community Relations with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR), and Abdul Rehman Khan, Esq., assistant clinical professor with the Seton Hall University School of Law Center for Social Justice.
Judiciary representatives Lewis Kelly and Kattalai began by providing a framework for understanding AI and discussed recent court initiatives, training and public awareness. Khan addressed the critical importance of centering and deeply understanding the needs of the communities we serve in any legal design process involving AI. Khan also advocated for the exploration of strategies that employ various and diverse tools in order to reach the most people with the greatest need. Given their orientation as the largest legal provider in the criminal court, and in representing low-income and communities of color, Sellitti discussed the need for the Public Defender’s office to have direct access to cutting-edge AI tools and the ability to leverage those tools for clients.
Panelists shared their unique perspectives on access to justice and responded to a number of challenging questions around topics such as security risks, the potential for discrimination, and ethical concerns. While some general concerns were raised regarding the use of AI, the discussion largely focused on the potential benefits and best use cases to help support increased access and greater protections. Perlmutter, for example, discussed DCR’s algorithmic discrimination unit, which was designed to identify and help defend against the disparate impact of automated decision-making tools and the deployment of AI in its strategic enforcement of civil rights laws including the Fair Chance in Housing Act.
Collectively, the panelists provided important viewpoints and continue to contribute to the ongoing discussion around AI, technology and justice. The Melville “De” Miller, Jr., Justice Series offers free CLE credits for lawyers in New Jersey. For information on sponsoring an upcoming Justice Series event, email [email protected].