The day of the verdict.
The courtroom was even more crowded than it had been on the first day of trial.
Every seat in the gallery had been filled long before the session began.
People stood along the walls.
Reporters from every major news outlet sat in silence, their expressions tense.
It was enough that this had become…
the first case in which Themis had predicted an acquittal.
Nothing more was needed to capture the nation’s attention.
The defendant, Shingo Saeki, quietly entered the courtroom.
As always, his expression revealed nothing.
In the victims’ gallery,
the victim’s widow clutched a black handkerchief in both hands.
Beside her,
their son stared straight ahead.
I took my seat on the bench and waited until everyone was seated.
“I will now deliver the judgment.”
A heavy silence settled over the courtroom.
Only my voice echoed as I read the decision.
“…For the reasons stated above, substantial doubt remains regarding the time at which the security camera footage was recorded.”
“Furthermore, even when considered together with the remaining evidence submitted in this case, the court cannot conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant committed the offense.”
For a brief moment,
I looked toward the defendant.
Shingo Saeki did not move.
“Accordingly…”
“…the defendant is found not guilty.”
The sound of the gavel rang through the courtroom.
Then—
“That’s impossible!”
A cry broke the silence.
It came from the victims’ gallery.
The victim’s widow.
“He did it…!”
“Please…”
“Give my husband back…”
Her words dissolved into sobs.
Court officers hurried toward her.
Her son gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and slowly helped her back into her seat.
No one in the courtroom argued with her.
No one could.
The defendant slowly rose.
Even after being instructed to leave,
he hesitated before taking his first step.
Then…
he turned briefly toward the victims’ gallery.
It lasted only a moment.
His expression was neither apologetic…
nor defiant…
nor relieved.
His lips parted slightly,
as though he were about to speak.
But no words came.
Without saying anything,
he quietly left the courtroom.
⸻
Two months later…
The police investigation continued.
No new evidence was discovered.
The real perpetrator—
if there was another—
was never found.
Before long,
newspapers stopped reporting on the case.
“Your Honor.”
The court clerk handed me a document.
It was the annual judicial statistics report.
Wrongful convictions since the introduction of Themis:
0
Again this year.
Silently,
I signed the report and looked out the window.
The streets were filled with people hurrying home beneath the evening sky.
None of them knew that somewhere,
another trial was taking place.
Nor did they stop to consider
whether justice was being upheld by human hands…
or by an AI.
Before leaving the courtroom,
I looked once more at Themis.
The black terminal said nothing.
There were no victors.
No losers.
No emotions.
Only the law remained.
I looked at the defendant.
Then at the victim’s family.
Finally…
I looked back at Themis.
Its screen reflected no one’s feelings.
Only silence.