Abstract:
Case based reasoning is a computer technique that combines the philosophy of
knowledge-based support with the simulation of human reasoning using experience. It
focuses on using explicit and documented experience to solve novel problems. Real-world
decision problems are complex, unstructured, and uncertain with potential risks
associated with inaccurate decisions. This may necessitate applying the previous solution
to current constraints. Therefore, case based problem-solving can be more effective than
starting from scratch when solving a new problem. However, Ethiopia's legal system faces
challenges in establishing legal precedents, resulting in uncertainty and lack of legal
certainty. Different judgments were made in similar cases, leading to ambiguity and a lack
of legal certainty, resources, and overburdened caseloads, resulting in a delay in the
delivery of justice. Case based technology, which draws on prior and analogous cases to
address novel situations, is particularly helpful in decision-making in cassation systems,
especially in managing these processes and minimizing delays. Case based systems have
facilitated a more consistent and uniform approach to decision-making, improving the
decision-making process and making legal information more accessible to practitioners.
In addition, it aids in structuring and retrieving legal information. In this study, a design
science approach was employed to design and develop a case-based system to address
court decision making. Design science research addresses and motivates problem
awareness. This study involves artifact development using FreeCBR and a demonstration
of solutions with relevant attributes extracted through document analysis. Statistical
analysis techniques and user-acceptance tests were used to evaluate the performance of
the proposed system. This study achieved a recall of 57.1% and precision of 87.5%.
Additionally, the evaluation of the prototype by experts showed 90% user acceptance. This
study achieved promising results with room for improvement to enhance its capabilities
and increase its sophistication in handling court problems.
