In an effort to relieve its congested court system, the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo is trying an on-the-scene justice system featuring a virtual judge. As New Scientist (April 29, 2000) reports, Electronic Judge is a computer program that assists its human judge and court clerk in dispensing justice at the scene of the crime. The software presents the on-site judge with simple multiple-choice questions to ask protagonists and witnesses, and in most cases the matter is sorted out on the spot.
