The integrity of the courtroom is under scrutiny as U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley pressed two federal judges to clarify whether artificial intelligence played a role in recently withdrawn rulings.
Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, sent letters to U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals of New Jersey and U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate of Mississippi. Both judges retracted separate orders in July after lawyers flagged serious factual mistakes and other errors.
The senator’s inquiries focus on whether generative AI or other automated tools were used in drafting the orders, how human review was applied, what caused the errors, and what safeguards the courts are putting in place to prevent future missteps.
Grassley’s letters note the increasing scrutiny on AI in the legal system. Lawyers nationwide have faced fines and sanctions for failing to properly vet AI-generated material. He emphasized that judges, like attorneys, must uphold “the highest standards of integrity, candor, and factual accuracy,” adding that Article III judges hold a special responsibility due to the binding nature of their rulings.
In Mississippi, Wingate withdrew a civil rights order that incorrectly named plaintiffs and defendants and included allegations not in the complaint. He cited clerical errors but declined to make the original document public.
In New Jersey, Neals pulled a securities ruling after defense attorneys pointed out factual inaccuracies and misquoted case law. Court sources revealed that AI-assisted research had been used in a draft that accidentally made it onto the public docket, though court policy strictly prohibits unauthorized AI use.
Grassley also asked whether the removed rulings should be restored to preserve a transparent record of the court’s actions. Representatives from both judges’ chambers have not publicly commented.
