California Judicial Council cancels statewide AI translation rollout

The California Judicial Council has canceled a plan to implement AI translation services at public-facing court service points statewide. The decision follows a pilot program involving more than 30 courts, including the San Diego Superior Court, which tested voice-to-text tools between 2021 and early 2026.

Officials noted several technical and linguistic limitations during the pilot. In San Diego, staff reported that the application struggled to capture information from individuals who spoke quickly and required frequent software updates that caused service delays. Additionally, the tool lacked support for languages such as Mandarin and Haitian.

Legal aid groups and critics also raised concerns after public records requests revealed instances where the AI failed to accurately translate statements from court workers or the public. While the AI rollout was halted, courts continue to utilize telephone translation services provided by human interpreters to ensure accuracy.