@DeadKinginHell I think this may resemble something of an AU kind of setting. Kana and Touma don't know each other in this setting at the start and is set in 204X. I don't mind a chapter like this once in a while to just give the setting a slight twist.
I wonder if this is the very first time that the AI judge was asked to show its own understanding of the case ever since the system was implemented. I mean, machines are only as perfect as the humans deem them to be.
the friend was the one who created the loophole in the AI code and was afraid that the accused would find out and maybe expose him or smth idk, so by sending accused to jail, accused wont be able to figure out about the loophole. that's my theory anyway