Judicial Branch
Judicial Branch
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The Costa Rican public institution with the broadest portfolio of AI in production: six live systems covering document classification, payment automation, budget forecasting, data protection, case-law analysis and citizen support. It published the Basic Guidelines for Authorized Generative AI Use, which frame AI as a support tool, never a substitute for legal judgment.
AI projects (6)
Document classification for debt collection
LiveAI system for automated document classification at the Specialized Debt Collection Court of Pérez Zeledón.
Live since: 2023
ML model for budget execution forecasting
LiveBudget execution forecasting with machine learning, used by 60+ management centers.
Live since: 2019
Anonymization with Nymiz
LiveAutomated anonymization of personal data in judicial documents, aligned with the Data Protection Regulation.
Live since: 2023
AI analysis of Constitutional Chamber rulings
LiveML analysis of 500,000+ Constitutional Court rulings (1989-2018), in partnership with UCR/IIJ and the State of the Nation Program.
Live since: 2025
Continuous Disbursement System
LiveAutomates monthly payment processing under ¢100,000 in debt-collection cases without manual intervention, integrated with the AI-driven document management flow.
Live since: 2024
ChatbotPJ — Citizen virtual assistant
Live24/7 citizen-facing chatbot that relieves load from the Judicial Branch’s phone line. No-appointment access for queries on judicial procedures and services.
Live since: 2018
Adoption lessons
The Judicial Branch did not lead through a dedicated AI budget but through early specialization (budget ML since 2019), partnerships with public academia (UCR and the Institute of Legal Research) and its own governance framework published ahead of any national law.