Senate Judiciary Chairman Queries Judges on AI Use in Flawed Mississippi Court Orders

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has formally questioned two federal judges, Henry Wingate of Mississippi and Julien Neals of New Jersey, about their potential use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in drafting court orders that contained significant factual errors. This inquiry follows incidents where orders were found to include inaccuracies such as incorrect plaintiffs and defendants, misquotations, and fabricated case citations, raising concerns about the integrity and accuracy of judicial rulings. In particular, Judge Wingate's order temporarily blocking Mississippi's new law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools contained numerous errors and was replaced after the state attorney general's office raised objections. Grassley emphasized that judges must adhere to the highest standards given the binding nature of their decisions and requested explanations on the human review process and safeguards against such errors. The original flawed orders have been removed from public dockets, but the scrutiny of AI use in judicial decision-making continues amid ongoing appeals and legal challenges. Both judges have not publicly responded to the inquiries, highlighting broader concerns about the role of AI in the legal system and the necessity for transparency.