By Ilias Karagiannis & Nick Siriodis
Against the backdrop of the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its emerging challenges, the second day of the 1st Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers 2025 underscored the role of justice as a foundation of democracy and a pillar of the rule of law.
The conference is taking place in Athens, Greece from Monday 7 July to Thursday 10 July, thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of the Greek Australian community, which played a vital role in bringing the event to fruition.
The active participation of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, as well as the presence of senior judicial figures, lent the event both international prestige and a distinctly Greek Australian character.
Notably, the keynote address by the Honourable Justice Emilios Kyrou, a prominent Greek Australian judge, offered a valuable contribution to the international dialogue on transparency and accountability, delivering important lessons for both Australia and Greece.
Following the official opening ceremony at the Acropolis Museum on Monday evening, proceedings began on Tuesday morning, with temperatures in Athens nearing 40°C – making the air-conditioned halls of the Athens Concert Hall a welcome relief for delegates.
Defending democracy in the age of AI
The conference’s central theme, “Defending Democracy, the Rule of Law and Justice – Global Challenges and the Role of Artificial Intelligence,” reflects the legal anxieties of our era – where technological progress collides with institutional uncertainty, calling for new frameworks to guarantee democratic governance.
And what more fitting location than Athens, cradle of both democracy and law, where the very concepts now under scrutiny were first born?
The day began with keynote speeches by:
- Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, The Honourable Stephen Gageler AC
- Former Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Emeritus Professor of Constitutional Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Evangelos Venizelos
Prior to their addresses, Dimitris Vervesos, President of Plenary of Greek Bar Associations, presented a commemorative gift to Joseph Tsalanidis, President of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, in recognition of the organisation’s instrumental contribution to the success of the summit.
The brief ceremony symbolically highlighted the close cooperation between the legal communities of Greece and Australia. Also underscoring the event’s importance were the presence of Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, Chris Kourakis.
Chief Justice Gageler: ‘From logos to likes’
“There are two kinds of delegates: Greeks and Philhellenes. You can tell from my accent I’m not Greek, but I assure you I am a Philhellene,” said Stephen Gageler AC, opening his keynote to spontaneous and sustained applause.
His talk, “From Logos to Likes: Defending Reason in Justice in the Digital Age,” was, as he admitted candidly, titled with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“I think the title of my presentation is catchy and clever. I wish I had thought of it myself—but I didn’t. It was generated when I explained the topic to an artificial intelligence programme and asked it to suggest titles,” he said.
He then questioned whether AI tools could one day substitute justice itself.
“If judicial power has nothing but judgment, and judgment is based on reason, then what was once considered its strength is increasingly exposed as its weakness,” he said.
He challenged the supremacy of logic in legal reasoning, suggesting: “Perhaps the role of reason has been overestimated, and the importance of passion under-recognised and under-integrated.”
Drawing on the myth of the Erinyes, he warned that if betrayed, the Eumenides could return with fury. He closed by emphasising that the defence of reason may well require its reconciliation with human emotion.
Venizelos: ‘Democracy is the supreme guarantee of all institutions’
Next to speak was Evangelos Venizelos, who argued that the greatest threat to democracy lies in the limitations imposed upon it.
“New technology offers vast opportunities—but also significant risks to democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. The adaptation of the rule of law to this new environment is not just necessary—it is urgent,” he said.
He warned of both external and internal threats, noting the erosion of the social contract: “Can democracy survive without a social contract—without a commitment to reducing inequality?”
Venizelos proposed a renewed framework for democratic reform, including his earlier concept of “post-representative democracy”: “What are the limits of liberal democracy today? Who truly represents society?”
He concluded by calling on legal professionals—judges, lawyers, prosecutors—to play an active role in defending and reimagining democratic institutions, stating: “Athens is the right place for this dialogue. Democracy was born here—and it remains the highest safeguard of all our institutions.”
Greek Australian panel and AI-focused debate
The programme continued with a second set of keynotes by:
- The Honorable Michael A. Chagares, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Professor Achilles C. Emilianides, Dean of the School of Law at the University of Nicosia and President of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts
Their discussion focused on institutional independence, constitutional justice, and judicial education.
This was followed by a panel titled “Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: Legal Accountability, Ethical Questions and Regulatory Challenges,” chaired by Peter Tantalos, Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Kourakis and Chair of Hellenic Australian Lawyers [SA Chapter].
Panel members included:
- The Honourable Dr Melissa Anne Perry, Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
- Professor John Tasioulas, Professor of Ethics and Legal Philosophy/Director of the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford
Together, they explored the challenges AI presents to democratic accountability and the moral integrity of law—an entirely Greek Australian panel reflecting the global legal reach of the Hellenic diaspora.
Justice Kyrou on Australia’s accountability mechanisms
Later, Justice Emilios Kyrou, President of the Administrative Review Tribunal and Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, delivered a detailed presentation on accountability as the core of democracy.
He outlined the federal structure of Australia and explained the terms “state,” “mechanisms,” and “accountability” in the context of Australia’s Constitution and judicial review processes.
Kyrou highlighted the rights to demand reasoning for government decisions, access government documents, and protect personal privacy—all crucial for transparency and public trust.
He focused on three key accountability institutions:
- Commonwealth Ombudsman
- Auditor-General
- National Anti-Corruption Commission
These, he said, form interlocking safeguards that reinforce transparency and oversight, protecting democracy from arbitrary governance.
“Effective accountability mechanisms underpin democracy, the rule of law, and justice,” Kyrou affirmed.
“Australia exemplifies a modern state where the separation of powers functions in practice.”
He emphasised the role of courts and tribunals as the strongest mechanisms for reviewing executive decisions—including in areas such as immigration, tax, education, intellectual property, and national security.
Dr Finokaliotis: The Constitution as a check on power
On the same panel, Dr Dimitrios Finokaliotis, President of the Thessaloniki Bar Association, addressed the role of constitutional safeguards in curbing the overreach of majority power.
“In Greece’s constitutional democracy, provisions exist to ensure that even democratically legitimate power is subject to limits. The Constitution offers continuity and coherence across time,” he said.
He stressed the importance of judicial independence, clear separation of powers, and the ongoing balance between democratic mandate and constitutional accountability.
Legal developments in the light of technological advancement
The final session on Tuesday addressed “Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence, and Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Data: Legal Developments in Light of Technological Progress.”
It was chaired by Stathis Michos, lawyer, LL.M., Head of Legal Affairs for Pfizer (Greece, Israel, Cyprus & Malta). Speakers included Kostas Argyropoulos, Director of Legal Services & Regulatory Compliance, SPACE HELLAS GROUP, and John C. Stratakis, Partner at Poles Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez LLP.
