Two federal judges have acknowledged that errors in court rulings were linked to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by their staff. This admission came from U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals of New Jersey and U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate of Mississippi. The judges responded to inquiries from Senator Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Court Rulings Affected by AI Use
Senator Grassley described recent court orders as “error-ridden.” In letters disclosed by his office, both judges revealed that the affected rulings lacked the typical thorough review before being issued. These cases were unrelated but raised significant concerns regarding factual inaccuracies.
Details from the Judges’ Letters
- Judge Neals: He reported that a draft decision from June 30 was prematurely released due to human error. An intern had used OpenAI’s ChatGPT for legal research without permission, violating both chamber policies and law school rules.
- Judge Wingate: In his letter, he explained that a law clerk had utilized Perplexity for drafting purposes, which led to the accidental release of a July 20 decision that contained clerical errors.
Both judges have since implemented stricter measures to ensure thorough reviews of court rulings before publication. Neals emphasized that his chambers now has a clear written policy prohibiting generative AI from being used in legal research or drafting opinions, a change from previous verbal communication.
Concerns About the Use of AI
Senator Grassley expressed his appreciation for the judges’ honesty and emphasized the judiciary’s responsibility to maintain integrity. He stated that reliance on AI must not compromise litigants’ rights or the fairness of the legal process. He has called for comprehensive, permanent policies regarding the use of generative AI to prevent future issues.
Wider Implications of AI Misuse
The emergence of AI in legal settings has prompted scrutiny beyond the judges involved in this matter. Courtrooms across the country are witnessing increased vigilance regarding the use of AI in court filings. Some judges have already imposed fines and sanctions on lawyers for similar overreliance on technology in legal documentation.
As the discussion around AI continues, the judiciary faces the challenge of balancing technological advancements with the need for accuracy and accountability in legal proceedings.
