Quebec's highest courts issued new guidelines on September 5, 2026, making clear that generative artificial intelligence tools are not authorized for use in crafting judicial decisions and cannot stand in for a judge's own reasoning. The directive follows concerns that a judge may have relied on such technology while preparing a ruling, prompting officials to reaffirm the human element at the core of the province's legal process.
The guidelines emphasize that no secure, institutionally approved generative AI system currently exists for judges in Quebec. Without a vetted platform that meets strict confidentiality and integrity standards, courts say any reliance on AI would jeopardize the fairness and transparency expected of the judiciary. As a result, judges are instructed to avoid employing AI‑generated content when drafting opinions, orders, or any other adjudicative documents.
Officials noted that interest in applying AI to legal work has been growing, with lawyers and scholars exploring ways to streamline research, draft briefs, and even predict case outcomes. However, the courts stress that such exploratory uses must remain separate from the decisive reasoning that underpins a judgment. The new policy aims to prevent the diffusion of untested tools into the core decision‑making arena, where errors or biases could have far‑reaching consequences.
While the guidelines do not ban the use of AI for ancillary tasks such as legal research, they draw a firm line at any assistance that could influence the substantive reasoning of a judge. The courts plan to monitor developments in AI technology and may revisit the policy if a secure, approved system becomes available that satisfies the rigorous standards required for judicial use.
By formalizing these restrictions, Quebec's judiciary seeks to preserve the integrity of its rulings while acknowledging the broader conversation about AI's role in the legal field.