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Grassley Seeks Answers from Judges on Potential AI Use in Faulty Court Orders

By  |  October 7, 2025

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has called on two federal judges to explain whether artificial intelligence played a role in drafting court orders that were later found to contain major factual errors. According to Reuters, Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, sent letters to U.S. District Judges Julien Xavier Neals in New Jersey and Henry Wingate in Mississippi, questioning how such mistakes made it into their rulings and what measures were in place to prevent similar issues.

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    The controversy stems from two separate cases earlier this year in which both judges withdrew their written opinions after attorneys pointed out serious inaccuracies. Per Reuters, Grassley asked the judges to clarify whether they, their clerks, or court staff had used generative AI or automated tools to help draft the orders. He also requested details about the “human drafting and review” process, the source of the errors, and any safeguards now in place to avoid repeat incidents.

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    Grassley’s letters highlight a growing concern over the use of AI in legal proceedings. As noted by Reuters, courts across the country have sanctioned attorneys for misusing AI-generated content that contained false information. “No less than the attorneys who appear before them, judges must be held to the highest standards of integrity, candor, and factual accuracy,” Grassley wrote, emphasizing that federal judges’ rulings carry significant weight over the rights of litigants.

    Related: Senators to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Federal Oversight of AI Risks

    In one of the cases, Judge Wingate, based in Jackson, Mississippi, replaced a July order in a civil rights lawsuit after state lawyers identified “incorrect plaintiffs and defendants” and references to allegations not found in the original complaint. Wingate later cited “clerical errors” but declined to release the initial, flawed order publicly, according to Reuters.

    In New Jersey, Judge Neals withdrew a securities ruling after defense lawyers said it contained factual inaccuracies and quotations not present in cited sources. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that a temporary assistant had used AI-generated research in a draft decision that was mistakenly placed on the docket before review. The court reportedly maintains a strict policy against unauthorized AI use in preparing judicial opinions.

    Grassley’s correspondence also asked why both judges’ original orders were removed from public records and whether they would be restored to “preserve a transparent history of the court’s actions.” Representatives from both judges’ chambers did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported.

    Source: Reuters