New Mexico lawyer fined for using AI-generated brief containing fabricated police testimony

September 11, 2026 · 6:04 pm 4 sources

Image: The Guardian

Coverage

Wires & papers of record

• New Mexico lawyer fined for using AI-generated brief containing fabricated police testimony
  The Guardian · September 11, 2026 18:04
  Stephen Aarons said he tried to use ChatGPT to create a ‘bulletproof summary’ during a murder conviction appeal A defense lawyer appealing his client’s murder conviction submitted a legal brief containing ⁠made-up police testimony and ⁠witnesses fabricated by OpenAI ’s ChatGPT, ​ New Mexico ’s…

Coverage

• ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses
  Ars Technica · September 11, 2026 19:34
  "I didn't know that AI could hallucinate facts," New Mexico defense lawyer says.
• US lawyer cites fake witnesses in murder case, blames ChatGPT
  Al Jazeera · September 11, 2026 20:42
  State supreme court fined the attorney and held him in contempt for not verifying facts in a court filing.
• Lawyer fined $5K over AI-hallucinated witnesses in a murder case
  The Verge · September 11, 2026 20:44
  New Mexico's Supreme Court is punishing a lawyer for including AI-fabricated witnesses and fake police testimony in an appeal for his client's murder conviction, according to a report from Reuters. In a filing on Wednesday, the court fined Stephen Aarons $5,000 and held him in contempt for failing…