I'm a bit more optimistic. For example, for all intents and purposes, I would consider a positive DNA test result to be overwhelmingly damning proof of guilt.

I'm a bit more optimistic. For example, for all intents and purposes, I would consider a positive DNA test result to be overwhelmingly damning proof of guilt. Indeed, although unpopular, technological advances in things like data logging and DNA testing are able to establish both guilt and innocence in a much more scientific manner than a judge crippled by such things as their current mood (maybe they had an argument with their spouse before hearing the case and now they're feeling particularly vindictive) and whether they "like" the defendant as a person (maybe the defendant looks like their high school bully). The Innocence Project has successfully exonerated many convicted "criminals" solely on the basis of DNA evidence, some of whom have been behind bars for many years. If that doesn't point to an extremely biased and flawed existing judicial system, I don't know what does. When I think of bias in the judicial system, I don't immediately point the finger at machine learning algorithms and say "if we implemented these types of systems, then we'd be biased" -- instead, I look at peer juries and law enforcement officers as the source of bias, things like "Stop and Frisk" or "driving while black." You have very faulty systems in place like plea bargaining which effectively nullify due process and encourage false confessions in order to obtain a guaranteed lighter sentence. You have prosecutors with their own illicit motives like appearing in public to be "tough on crime" resulting in such atrocities as Aaron Swartz -- this very concept of "making an example out of somebody" is a biased one. Someone brought up the point that "bias can be inserted accidentally, by well-meaning programmers" in an unintentional matter. On the other hand, right now, instead of employing some well-meaning programmer who is trying their very best to make sure things are fair, you have policies in place like racial profiling which are INTENTIONALLY biased. Which is worse? In my mind, ML has the potential of creating a bias-free judicial system more than we could ever hope for by continuing to rely on fickle, highly error-prone, and even outright malicious humans. People just need to get past the fact that a "cold-hearted," emotionless computer is in the judge's chair because that's EXACTLY what we want.