Quebec’s highest courts issued formal guidelines on September 5, 2026, declaring that generative artificial intelligence tools cannot be used to replace the reasoning of judges. The statement also noted that, as of that date, no secure AI system had received official authorization for use by members of the judiciary.
The guidelines were released after a provincial judge was reported to have consulted a generative‑AI program while drafting a judicial decision. The allegation prompted the courts to clarify the permissible role of technology in the decision‑making process, emphasizing that AI may not perform the analytical functions that are the core of judicial judgment.
According to the court’s directive, any assistance provided by AI must remain strictly limited to non‑substantive tasks, such as formatting or basic research, and must be subject to thorough review by the judge. The courts also warned that without a vetted, secure platform, the risk of compromising confidentiality or integrity of legal reasoning could increase.
The move comes as Quebec grapples with broader questions about how to regulate generative AI across public institutions. Lawmakers and legal professionals have been debating standards for AI use, data protection, and accountability, but no official AI tool has yet been cleared for court operations. The provincial government has indicated that a framework for evaluating and approving such technology is under development, though timelines remain unclear.
By issuing the guidelines, the Quebec courts aim to preserve the independence and reliability of the judicial process while acknowledging the growing presence of AI in professional workflows. The statement underscores the province’s cautious approach, balancing potential efficiencies against the fundamental need for human judgment in the administration of justice.
The courts reiterated that any future adoption of AI will require rigorous testing, security validation, and explicit approval before it can be integrated into judicial practice.