The Gavel and the Algorithm: Courts' Role in a Data-Driven World
On 22–23 January 2026, the Dublin European Law Institute (DELI) as part of DCU Ethics and Privacy Week, will host a two-day event titled “The Gavel and the Algorithm: Courts' Role in a Data-Driven World.” The event will explore the role of courts in a digital environment shaped by data-driven technologies and AI, and will examine the broader legal and ethical challenges emerging at the intersection of justice and technology.
The keynote session on 22 January 2026 (16:00–18:30 Dublin time) will feature a dialogue with Justice Iseult O’Malley (Supreme Court of Ireland) and Justice Gilmar Ferreira Mendes (Supreme Court of Brazil). Opening remarks will be delivered by Flávio Helmold Macieira (Brazilian Ambassador to Ireland).
Two academic roundtable sessions will take place on 23 January 2026 (10:00–13:00 Dublin time).
Download the full event programme
Programme:
16.00-18.30 - 22 January 2026 - Venue: AG01, Albert College Building
Introduction
Dr Edoardo Celeste, Dublin City University (DCU)
Institutional greetings
Prof Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University
Prof Charlotte Holland, Dean of Global Relations, DCU
HE Flávio Helmold Macieira, Brazilian Ambassador to Ireland
Dr Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, Head of School of Law and Government, DCU
Keynote interventions
Justice Iseult O’Malley, Supreme Court of Ireland
Justice Gilmar Ferreira Mendes, Supreme Court of Brazil and IDP
Conclusions
Prof Ingo Sarlet, PUC-RS
23 January 2026 - Venue: C206 Moot Court Room, Henry Grattan Building
10.00-10.15 - Institutional greetings
Prof Derek Hand, Executive Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, DCU
10.15-11.30 - Roundtable 1 - From judicial to algorithmic power: a de-humanisation of courts?
Moderation: Prof Ilton Robl Filho
Speakers:
- Prof Paolo Passaglia, Università di Pisa
- Dr Lucia Teixeira Ferreira, IDP
- Dr Brian Barry, Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
- Leyse Potira Marostega Zibetti Robl, IDP
- Hannah Garland, DCU
11.30-11.45 - Coffee Break
11.45-13.00 - Roundtable 2 - Beyond the State: the privatisation of judicial power in the age of AI
Moderation: Dr Ellen Rushe, DCU
Speakers:
- Dr Tanya Lokot, DCU
- Prof Ricard Martínez Martínez, Valencia
- Prof Ademar Borges, IDP
- Prof Guilherme Pupe da Nóbrega, IDP
- Dr Monique Munarini, TCD
Partners:
This event is promoted by the Law and Tech Research Cluster of DELI in partnership with the EMILDAI programme, the ADAPT Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, the Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino, Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul.
For security reasons, registration is mandatory. Registration is now closed.