ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses
Summary
The New Mexico Supreme Court punished a lawyer for submitting a legal brief that included fake testimony created by ChatGPT. The lawyer admitted he did not check the AI-generated content before using it in court and was fined and referred for further discipline.Key Facts
- Lawyer Stephen Aarons used ChatGPT to create a court brief for an appeal in a murder case.
- The brief contained false testimony from witnesses that did not exist, and inaccuracies about real witnesses.
- Aarons admitted he did not verify the information AI produced before filing the brief.
- The New Mexico Supreme Court found Aarons in contempt of court and fined him $5,000.
- Aarons was suspended from appearing in the state’s highest court pending disciplinary investigation.
- The court removed all previous briefs from the case and assigned a new lawyer for the defendant.
- The case will continue in the court’s 2026-27 term.
- Justices criticized Aarons for failing to check AI output and misleading the court.
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