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New York Courts Set AI Use Rules for Judges and Staff

By  |  October 12, 2025

New York’s state court system has unveiled a new interim policy governing the use of artificial intelligence by judges and court employees, according to Reuters. The measure, announced on Friday, aligns the state with at least four others—California, Delaware, Illinois, and Arizona—that have adopted similar AI-related guidelines within the past year.

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    The policy, which applies to all judges, justices, and nonjudicial employees within the New York Unified Court System, restricts the use of generative AI tools to those that have been officially approved. As reported by Reuters, it also mandates training for court staff on the appropriate use of such technologies. Importantly, the policy bars the input of confidential or privileged case information into AI platforms that are not private or controlled by the court system. Private models, as defined in the document, are those operating under court supervision and not connected to public or data-sharing systems.

    The court did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment regarding how it intends to monitor compliance with the new policy.

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    According to Reuters, the directive emphasizes that it is “critical to ensure that material that reflects harmful bias, stereotypes, or prejudice” does not appear in judicial work. The policy stresses that while AI may enhance efficiency, judges and staff must maintain responsibility for their own work and ensure that technology use aligns with ethical obligations. Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas said in a statement that “while AI can enhance productivity, it must be utilized with great care” and is “not designed to replace human judgment, discretion, or decision-making.”

    Read more: EU Unveils €1 Billion Plan to Accelerate Artificial Intelligence Adoption

    Across the United States, courts have begun to grapple with the benefits and risks of integrating AI tools. As Reuters noted, several states are still evaluating whether and how to incorporate generative AI into court operations. Meanwhile, the legal profession has seen growing concern over AI misuse—lawyers in multiple jurisdictions have faced fines and disciplinary actions after submitting filings containing fabricated case citations and factual errors produced by AI systems. While professional conduct rules do not forbid AI use, attorneys can be penalized for failing to verify the accuracy of their submissions.

    Judges, too, are under scrutiny. Per Reuters, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley recently sought answers from two federal judges about whether AI tools were used in drafting recent orders that included “substantive errors.”

    New York’s new framework marks a significant step toward establishing consistent standards for AI use in the judiciary, reflecting a broader effort nationwide to balance technological innovation with the preservation of ethical and legal integrity.

    Source: Reuters