New Mexico Supreme Court Fines Lawyer $5,000 for AI-Fabricated Witnesses in Murder Appeal
New Mexico's Supreme Court fines lawyer Stephen Aarons $5,000 and holds him in contempt for submitting an AI-generated brief in a murder conviction appeal that contained fabricated witnesses and false testimony. The filing states the brief included "false testimony from wholly fabricated witnesses" along with invented details about the shooter's clothing and appearance.
During an August hearing, Aarons admits to using ChatGPT, believing it would generate a "bulletproof summary" of the trial. Justice C. Shannon Bacon questions how he remains unaware of AI's risks, asking, "Counsel, do you watch the news? Do you listen to the radio? Do you read anything about what's going on in the world?" She notes that lawyers relying on AI hallucinations is "an above-the-fold story every single day."
The case highlights a growing problem as more lawyers incorporate AI tools into their work and courts increasingly discover fake citations and fabricated content in legal filings. The court's decision underscores that attorneys remain responsible for verifying the factual claims and legal authority in their briefs, regardless of whether AI tools assist in drafting them.