GoKawiilNew Mexico court holds Aarons in contempt over ChatGPT-fabricated testimony in murder appeal
The New Mexico Supreme Court found veteran defense attorney Stephen Aarons in direct contempt after he filed an appellate brief containing invented testimony from nonexistent witnesses, generated using ChatGPT. Aarons admitted he never verified the AI-produced content before submitting it in the appeal of client Oscar Renee Sandoval's murder conviction, nor did he tell his client about the errors. The case has been referred to a disciplinary board for further review.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The ruling underscores growing judicial intolerance for unchecked AI use in legal filings, especially in high-stakes criminal appeals where fabricated evidence can undermine due process. It also signals that courts will hold attorneys personally accountable for failing to verify AI-generated content, regardless of their experience or seniority.
- A 40-year veteran lawyer was held in contempt for submitting a ChatGPT-generated brief with fake witness testimony.
- The attorney admitted he never verified the AI-generated claims before filing them in a murder appeal.
- The case has been referred to a disciplinary board, highlighting rising scrutiny of AI misuse in legal practice.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-11
Published there as: “ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses”
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