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Sanctions watch

Every incident where a lawyer got caught filing AI-fabricated citations. The Hall of Shame.

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53
Incidents tracked
19
Incidents in 2026
$5,237
In fines, where reported
1 of 53 report an amount

The curve

Incidents per month

Last 18 months of published incidents, by the date of the court's order.

Apr 2025 Sep 2026

Charting 26 of 53 incidents; the rest are undated or fall outside this window.

Blamed by name

ChatGPT 6 CoCounsel 1 Gemini 1 Google AI 1

Counts only incidents where the filing court or the reporting named the tool.

Hall of Shame

All Fined 251 Caught, not sanctioned 199 Warned 126 Referred to the bar 98 Reprimanded 85 Outcome unclear 53 Filing dismissed 36 Suspension 2 Upcoming sanction 1

Showing 11–20 of 53 incidents. Clear filters

Outcome unclear
The court issued a show cause order to a lawyer after detecting three fabricated case law citations in a filing.
Braun v. Day · N.D. Illinois · IL
damiencharlotin.com ↗
The file →
  • Braun v. Day involved a lawyer submitting AI-generated content.
  • The lawyer submitted three fabricated case law citations.
  • The judge issued an Order to Show Cause.
  • Decided in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
  • Issued on April 30, 2026, in connection with plaintiff's motion to compel.
Outcome unclear
A lawyer submitted a filing containing fabricated case law in federal court.
Jane Doe v. Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners · D. Maryland · MD
damiencharlotin.com ↗
The file →
  • Jane Doe v. Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners involved a lawyer.
  • The lawyer submitted fabricated case law in a court document.
  • No specific sanction outcome was specified in the entry.
  • Decided in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
  • The ruling date was April 29, 2026.
Outcome unclear
A lawyer who submitted fabricated case law and false quotes was ordered to attend an ethics seminar and produce proof of attendance.
Loyer v. Wayne County Michigan et al. · E.D. Michigan · MI
damiencharlotin.com ↗
The file →
  • Loyer v. Wayne County Michigan et al. involved a lawyer submitting AI hallucinations.
  • The submission contained fabricated case law, false quotes, and misrepresented law.
  • The court ordered the attorney to attend an ethics seminar and show proof of attendance.
  • Decided in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
  • Issued on April 28, 2026, involving an unidentified AI tool.
Outcome unclear
A California appeals court appointed a judge to investigate potential sanctions against prosecutors for filing court documents containing generative AI errors in four criminal cases.
In re Nevada County District Attorney's Office · Madison Maxwell · California Court of Appeal · CA
legaltech.fyi ↗
The file →
  • Former Nevada County prosecutor Madison Maxwell faces potential sanctions for using AI to draft court documents.
  • Maxwell submitted filings containing falsehoods and nonexistent case citations in multiple criminal matters.
  • A California appeals court appointed a judge to investigate whether to issue sanctions against the district attorney's office.
  • The proceedings were initiated in California state court following a directive from the California Supreme Court.
  • Maxwell stated in a declaration that she did not realize generative AI models could insert citations for nonexistent cases.
Outcome unclear
The court described the appellant's arguments as supported by fictitious cases generated from the hallucinations of artificial intelligence.
Petsinger v. Steele County Recorder's Office · Minnesota Court of Appeals · MN
“fictitious cases generated from the hallucinations of artificial intelligence.”
legaltech.fyi ↗
The file →
  • Petsinger v. Steele County Recorder's Office involving an unnamed appellant
  • Appellant submitted fictitious cases generated from AI hallucinations
  • Court identified the AI-hallucinated caselaw in its opinion
  • Minnesota Court of Appeals in Minnesota
  • Undated nonprecedential opinion addressing unverified AI authority
Outcome unclear
An unregistered barrister misled the court by including AI hallucinations in her submissions.
BCP v A Mother · Family Court
regulationandcomplianceoffice.co.uk ↗
The file →
  • Matter involved an unregistered barrister who held herself out as a lawyer
  • The representative included AI hallucinations in court submissions
  • The court found no deliberate intent to mislead but expressed serious concern
  • Family Court [2026] EWFC 71 (B) (England and Wales)
  • 2026 judgment emphasizing that courts view AI hallucinations as serious even if unintentional
Outcome unclear
Assistant City Attorney Jalen Harris resigned following court sanctions for using fake AI-generated citations.
Jalen Harris · Jalen Harris · HI
h0credjek5.andaluzadealuminio.com.es ↗
The file →
  • Assistant City Attorney Jalen Harris resigned following sanctions.
  • Harris used fake AI-generated citations in court filings.
  • Sanctions were imposed, leading to the attorney's resignation.
  • The matter involved the Hawaii Supreme Court in Hawaii.
  • The incident highlights growing judicial scrutiny over AI-generated legal briefs.
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