Home / Crime and Justice / Court Sanctions Lawyer Over AI Hallucinations
Court Sanctions Lawyer Over AI Hallucinations
12 Sep
Summary
- A lawyer was fined $5,000 for using AI-generated false testimony.
- The fabricated evidence included non-existent witnesses and police testimony.
- The court questioned the lawyer's awareness of AI risks.
New Mexico's Supreme Court has penalized attorney Stephen Aarons $5,000 and found him in contempt. This action stems from his use of AI-generated content in a legal brief for a client's murder conviction appeal. The court's filing on Wednesday detailed that the brief included fabricated witness testimony and false police accounts.
Justice C. Shannon Bacon questioned Aarons's awareness of AI's potential for errors during an August hearing. Aarons acknowledged using ChatGPT, mistakenly believing it would produce a flawless summary of the trial. The justice pointed out that issues surrounding AI hallucinations in legal work are frequently reported.
This case reflects a growing trend where lawyers rely on AI tools, leading to the submission of falsified citations and testimony. Previously, other legal professionals faced fines for similar AI-related errors in court filings. Aarons stated he is remorseful but hopes his mistake will be considered an honest error.
