The Ticino justice system is facing a phase of profound transformation: this is the message that emerged from the opening ceremony of thejudicial year 2026 of the June 1st, which was staged in Hall B of the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, in the presence of the main cantonal and judicial authorities.

The meeting represented not only the traditional institutional launch of judicial activity, but also an opportunity to review the state of the cantonal judiciary and the prospects for change that await the sector in the coming years.

After the institutional greetings, the President of the Council of State, Claudio Zali, the outgoing President of the Court of Appeal, Giovan Maria Tattarletti, and the new President, Damiano Stefani, spoke. The ceremony also introduced the study day dedicated to a topic destined to increasingly impact the legal world: generative artificial intelligence and its impact on the judicial system.

Growing numbers and structural limitations

In his closing remarks as president of the Court of Appeal, Giovan Maria Tattarletti highlighted how the Ticino judiciary has continued to deliver significant results in 2025.

Completed cases reached 50,381, the highest figure ever recorded. However, the number of new cases entered exceeded 53,000, generating a further increase in pending cases.

According to Tattarletti, these data highlight structural problems. Beyond a certain threshold, the capacity to process cases no longer increases proportionally to the increase in cases, with inevitable consequences for the processing of justice.

Among the critical issues identified are the scarcity of human resources, infrastructure considered partly obsolete, and technological tools that are not always able to keep pace with evolving operational needs.

Digitalization and artificial intelligence

While acknowledging the progress made in digitizing and anonymizing documents, the outgoing president emphasized that the process is far from over.

Particular attention was paid to artificial intelligence, identified as one of the main challenges of the next decade. Tattarletti noted how law firms and citizens are increasingly making use of these tools, with the risk that judicial authorities will find themselves having to manage a growing number of increasingly complex cases and documents.

Hence the call to rapidly address technological transformation, while maintaining the necessary precautions.

Humanity as the foundation of justice

At the heart of Tattarletti's speech was also a reflection on the deeper meaning of judicial activity.

According to the magistrate, efficiency and justice do not automatically coincide. A system can be fast and perfectly organized without guaranteeing truly fair decisions.

The essential element remains humanity, understood as the ability to listen, respect for those involved, the use of comprehensible language, and the balanced exercise of judicial power.

This consideration takes on particular relevance as artificial intelligence and automation progressively enter decision-making processes.

The new presidency and the problem of attractiveness of positions

In taking over the presidency of the Court of Appeal, Damiano Stefani first wanted to pay tribute to the work of his predecessor, who was involved in years marked by particularly complex situations within certain judicial institutions.

Stefani then addressed a less visible but significant issue: the growing difficulty in finding magistrates willing to assume managerial roles.

According to the new president, managing an Appellate Court with over 130 staff requires increasingly complex managerial skills. Institutional responsibility is compounded by personnel management, relationships with other government agencies, media relations, and a social context that constantly exposes the judiciary to criticism and pressure.

In light of these costs, Stefani observed, there are no particular compensations or reductions in ordinary judicial activity.

Artificial intelligence will change the work of magistrates

The largest part of the new president's speech was dedicated to the evolution of artificial intelligence.

Stefani believes that in the coming years, the judge's role could gradually transform, increasingly taking on the role of supervisor and final guarantor of the processes produced by automated systems.

The simplest and most repetitive procedures could in fact be managed almost entirely by digital tools, while the more complex cases will continue to require human judgment.

Automation, according to this vision, could help at least partially solve the chronic problem of staff shortages. At the same time, however, it raises significant questions about the training of future generations of magistrates and jurists.

The identified risk is that the progressive automation of tasks traditionally performed by trainees and young collaborators will reduce opportunities for direct learning, compromising the development of the professional experience necessary to critically evaluate the responses generated by artificial intelligence.

The risk of a private algorithmic justice

Among the scenarios outlined by Stefani, the possible growth of forms of private justice based on algorithms also emerges.

If citizens and businesses could quickly obtain resolutions to disputes that currently take a very long time, the temptation to turn to digital platforms as alternatives to traditional courts could become increasingly strong.

Artificial intelligence offers speed, accessibility, and low costs. However, according to the President of the Court of Appeal, the judicial function cannot be reduced to a simple technical process.

Indeed, justice continues to represent an instrument of democratic guarantee, protection of rights, and the protection of the most vulnerable. For this reason, final responsibility for decisions must remain in the hands of independent and responsible individuals.

The priorities indicated by the Council of State

In his speech, the President of the Council of State, Claudio Zali, confirmed the Government's awareness of the difficulties facing the judicial authorities.

Among the main emergencies are work overload, the growing complexity of procedures and the increase in requests for staff reinforcement.

Of particular significance was the explosion in bankruptcy proceedings following the entry into force of the new federal legislation against bankruptcy abuse, which had direct effects on the courts, appellate courts, and administrative offices involved.

The penal sector also continues to experience strong pressure, in a context characterized by detention facilities close to saturation.

New offices and reorganization of justice

Zali also updated on the status of discussions regarding judicial logistics in the Lugano area.

The goal remains to identify modern solutions to overcome the critical issues of the current Courthouse. Among the options under consideration is the construction of new facilities, with particular attention to the opportunities offered by the Bioggio area and the future connections provided by the Lugano tram-train network.

At the same time, work continues to reform the judicial appointment system, which the Government intends to make more objective and less influenced by party politics.

Towards a more modern justice system

The judicial year 2026 It therefore opens at a time of transition. On the one hand, familiar problems are emerging: increasing paperwork, limited resources, the need for investment and organizational reform. On the other, a technological transformation is looming, destined to profoundly alter the way justice is administered.

The challenge, as emerged from the authorities' interventions, will be to find a balance between innovation and the fundamental elements of the rule of law: independence, transparency, competence, and attention to the human dimension of decision-making.

This balance is essential for the Ticino judiciary to face the future without sacrificing citizens' trust and the principles that underpin the judicial function.