Federal Judge Declines Sanctions for Lawyer Over AI-Generated Citation Errors

The judge acknowledged the growing use of AI in legal practice but emphasized the need for diligence and accuracy in filings.

Attorney Thad Guyer avoided sanctions after submitting a legal brief with erroneous case citations and quotes generated by AI.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen ruled the errors were unintentional and credited Guyer for taking full responsibility and addressing the mistakes.
The errors stemmed from generative AI tools, which Guyer admitted to using extensively in his legal practice without sufficient safeguards.
The judge emphasized that while AI is becoming common in the legal field, lawyers must ensure accuracy and adhere to professional standards.
Bar investigations in Virginia and Oregon are ongoing, with the judge sharing his findings to assist in their evaluations.