The New Mexico Supreme Court has imposed a $5,000 fine and held attorney Stephen Aarons in contempt after he submitted an appeal brief relying on AI-generated content that contained fabricated evidence. According to a report from Reuters, the court ruled that Aarons failed to verify the factual claims and legal authority within his filing.
The brief in question, which was submitted in defense of a client convicted of murder, included false testimony from entirely invented witnesses. It also featured inaccurate descriptions regarding the clothing and appearance of the shooter involved in the case.
During an August hearing, Justice C. Shannon Bacon expressed disbelief that Aarons was unaware of the potential risks associated with using artificial intelligence tools in legal proceedings. The court’s recent filing emphasizes the responsibility of attorneys to ensure the accuracy of all submissions, particularly when automated tools are involved.
AI is great, but it still hallucinates like a teenager. Humans need to remain in the loop, obviously.
Imagine being so overworked you didn’t even check if the witnesses existed. That’s not negligence, that’s just unprofessional.
Is it really that hard to verify a case citation? I hope other attorneys are paying attention to this ruling.
$5,000 feels light for such a serious breach. Shouldn’t this include suspension from practicing law too?
Finally, some accountability. Lawyers can’t just blame the algorithm when they submit fabrications. Professional responsibility matters.