● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact3 negative
New Mexico Lawyer Fined for Submitting AI-Generated Brief with Fabricated Testimony
Key points
- Attorney Stephen Aarons fined $5,000 by New Mexico Supreme Court.
- Brief contained fabricated police testimony and witnesses from ChatGPT.
- Aarons cited AI 'hallucination' as the cause.
- Court referred Aarons to an attorney disciplinary board.
- Aarons was held in contempt.
- The brief contained false testimony about the shooter's clothing and appearance.
- Justice C. Shannon Bacon questioned Aarons about his awareness of AI risks.
- Aarons did not verify AI-generated content before filing.
- Aarons did not inform his client of the brief's misrepresentations.
- Court concluded Aarons demonstrated a lack of remorse.
- Aarons has been a criminal defense lawyer for over 40 years.
- Aarons was hired by Oscar Renee Sandoval's family.
- Oscar Renee Sandoval was sentenced to life in prison in February 2025.
- Sandoval was convicted of killing Shiereen Al-Jibury.
- Aarons submitted the brief in August 2025.
Attorney Sanctioned for AI-Generated Content
The New Mexico Supreme Court has fined attorney Stephen Aarons $5,000 and found him in contempt for submitting a legal brief that included fabricated police testimony and witnesses. Aarons stated he used OpenAI's ChatGPT to summarize trial proceedings for his client's murder conviction appeal, unaware of the AI's potential to 'hallucinate' facts.
Court's Findings and Disciplinary Action
The court stated the filing contained 'false testimony from wholly fabricated witnesses' and noted Aarons' 'lack of remorse and a lack of concern for his client'. In addition to the fine, Aarons will be referred to an attorney disciplinary board for further investigation. The fabricated material reportedly included 'fictional statements that the shooter was wearing dark pants and a white shirt'.
Broader Implications for AI in Legal Practice
This sanction is part of a growing trend where state and federal judges are disciplining lawyers for submitting unverified AI-generated court documents. Previous cases have involved AI making up case citations or misquoting laws, but Aarons' filing is notable for fabricating witness testimony in a criminal appeal. This incident underscores the critical need for legal professionals to vet AI-generated content thoroughly.
Attorney's Defense and Ongoing Appeal
Aarons, a private attorney from Santa Fe, expressed remorse, calling it an 'honest mistake' and a 'lesson learned for all professionals who rely upon this powerful but sometimes unstable technology'. The appeal for his client, Oscar Renee Sandoval, who was convicted of murder, remains pending and has been reassigned to a public defender.
Updates
- Aarons did not verify AI-generated content before filing.
- Aarons did not inform his client of the brief's misrepresentations.
- Court concluded Aarons demonstrated a lack of remorse.
- Aarons has been a criminal defense lawyer for over 40 years.
- Aarons was hired by Oscar Renee Sandoval's family.
- Oscar Renee Sandoval was sentenced to life in prison in February 2025.
- Sandoval was convicted of killing Shiereen Al-Jibury.
- Aarons submitted the brief in August 2025.
- Aarons was held in contempt.
- The brief contained false testimony about the shooter's clothing and appearance.
- Justice C. Shannon Bacon questioned Aarons about his awareness of AI risks.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
The New Mexico Supreme Court fined lawyer Stephen Aarons $5,000 and held him in contempt for submitting an appeal brief that included AI-fabricated witnesses and false police testimony in a murder conviction case. This incident highlights the increasing issue of AI "hallucinations" in legal documents and the courts' response to lawyers failing to verify AI-generated content.
The New Mexico Supreme Court held attorney Stephen Aarons in direct contempt for submitting a brief containing false testimony from fabricated witnesses and misrepresenting legal authority, generated using ChatGPT. Aarons admitted he did not verify the AI-generated content before filing, leading to a referral to a disciplinary board and a finding of lack of remorse.
The New Mexico Supreme Court fined attorney Stephen Aarons $5,000 and held him in contempt for submitting a legal brief containing fabricated police testimony and witnesses generated by OpenAI's ChatGPT. This incident highlights the risks of using AI tools in legal work without proper verification, as courts increasingly sanction lawyers for unvetted AI-generated content.