Miami-Dade County Public Defender Carlos Martinez has worked his way from a gas station attendant to championing the use of AI as the voice of the people he serves
The post is part of a new limited series of blog posts and podcasts presented by the Thomson Reuters Institute, Revolutionizing Rights: AI and the Future of Legal Equality, that will provide perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal sphere
A small change in course can lead to a larger change for society. Take the example of Carlos Martinez, who progressed from working at a gas station to the courtroom, and today holds the role of Public Defender for Miami-Dade County.
And it was one critical event during one summer in the late 1980s — a moment where Martinez stayed to give a statement after witnessing an accident — that may have taken his career in a different direction. Without that delay, he could have become counsel for a major oil company instead. Now, he is dedicated to serving his community and representing those who cannot otherwise afford legal assistance.
He also is an example of a legal professional who embraces artificial intelligence (AI) and especially generative AI (GenAI) as a catalyst for positive change. Indeed, Martinez sees the potential of these innovative technologies to revolutionize the legal field and improve the quality and fairness of legal work. He is not afraid of the challenges and risks that GenAI poses, but rather embraces them as opportunities to learn and grow. He also seeks to inspire others to use GenAI as a tool for justice and social change.
Beginning with a solid work ethic
As the son of Cuban exiles, Martinez was instilled with a solid work ethic early on. His family relocated from Cuba to America in 1969, providing him with the foundation needed to work his way through a prestigious high school and giving him the opportunity to go to college. He eventually earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University.
Immediately after college, he enrolled in law school with the intention to be a civil corporate attorney. While progressing through law school, he enrolled in an internship program that changes the course of his career. On the day internship locations were assigned, he was delayed as a witness to a car accident. Being the last student to arrive that day led to his assignment in the public defender’s office, where he discovered his true vocation. After obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami, he has diligently pursued his own version of the American dream.
“You must have a human in the loop because the reality is that human judgment cannot be replaced by GenAI — a tool can assist, but you must have human in the loop.”
Martinez has spent many years working in the public defender’s office. He progressed from an internship to assistant public defender to the role of the chief public defender. He has strived to guarantee fair treatment for everyone in court. This commitment motivated him to delve into the larger realm of AI and GenAI as resources to support the people he serves.
Overall, Martinez says he views AI as a transformative tool in the legal field, with the potential to enhance legal services and address systemic challenges. He does believe that the distinction needs to be made between AI and GenAI as they have different implications. He passionately believes that properly using GenAI can revolutionize the legal field, feeling that GenAI can help legal professionals work more efficiently, competently, and fairly. He also expressed his hopes for how GenAI can improve legal decision-making and reduce inherent bias.
Optimistic about GenAI’s impact
Martinez holds a positive and optimistic perspective on GenAI, especially for legal work, and he recognizes GenAI’s potential for better efficiency and time-saving, which in turn would boost legal professionals’ competence while aiding in their case preparation. Although he is aware of the concerns surrounding GenAI, he believes its benefits to legal work significantly outweigh those risks, however, he notes that having proper safeguards in place is essential.
He also emphasizes the importance of human judgment and oversight in the use of GenAI. “You must have a human in the loop because the reality is that human judgment cannot be replaced by GenAI,” Martinez explains, adding that there is a place for human judgement based on the facts of the case, the information that’s available, and the complexity of the situation itself. “A GenAI tool can assist the human, but you must have human in the loop.”
Martinez also says he hopes that GenAI can be a force for good in the future, especially in addressing the challenges of bias and discrimination in the legal system. “My hope is that GenAI can give us more insight into our decision-making and into others’ decision-making, even if it’s just to make us aware of what’s happening and what appears to be biased.”
This insight into decision-making can have further far-reaching implications. “My hope is that GenAI will lead to more insight by the individuals who are involved, if they are open to it, to be able to examine how their own decision-making plays out, what our blind spots are, and how to overcome those things so that we don’t get worse results and more in-grained bias.”
You can hear more insights from Carlos Martinez, Esq. on a special edition of the Thomson Reuters Institute Insight podcast, on Spotify
