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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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126
Incidents tracked
50
Incidents in 2026
$4,000
In fines, where reported
1 of 126 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 74 of 126 incidents; the rest are undated or fall outside this window.

Blamed by name

ChatGPT 20 Copilot 5 AI-assisted legal software 2 ChatGPT-4o 1 Claude 1 CoCounsel 1 Legal Genius 1 Lexis+ AI 1 Strongsuit 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 21–30 of 126 incidents. Clear filters

Warned
A litigant filed AI-generated fake case citations, and the High Court condemned the fabrication but imposed no immediate contempt finding or personal costs order.
Taiwo v Homelets of Bath Ltd · High Court
cms.law ↗
The file →
  • Taiwo v Homelets of Bath Ltd was the case discussed.
  • AI-generated case citations, including a non-existent Court of Appeal authority, were filed.
  • No immediate contempt finding or personal costs order was imposed solely for the citation fabrication.
  • High Court; England and Wales.
  • The court found credibility issues and noted potential misconduct or contempt.
Warned
Honolulu Deputy Corporation Counsel David Sgan filed a brief using AI-generated fake law in a major civil rights case, and Circuit Judge Karen Holma gave him only a scolding.
Honolulu Deputy Corporation Counsel David Sgan case · David Sgan · Hawaiʻi Circuit Court · HI
civilbeat.org ↗
The file →
  • David Sgan was identified by name in the article.
  • He used AI-generated fake law in a brief in a major civil rights case.
  • Judge Karen Holma let him off with a scolding, not a formal sanction.
  • Hawaiʻi Circuit Court, state of Hawaiʻi.
  • December 17, 2025; the article says he used AI-generated fake law.
Warned
A solicitor insisted that an expert witness use an AI-generated report, and Mr Justice Waksman called it a gross breach of duty.
Mr Justice Waksman · Construction and Technology Court
“That to my mind is a gross breach of duty on the part of the solicitor.”
fastdatascience.com ↗
The file →
  • A solicitor in the Construction and Technology Court was involved.
  • He insisted that an expert witness use an AI-generated report.
  • Mr Justice Waksman described it as a gross breach of duty.
  • Construction and Technology Court, England and Wales.
  • The page names Waksman and quotes his criticism of the solicitor.
Warned
A plaintiff filed AI-generated briefs with non-existent case law and then objected when the magistrate judge warned him about the citations.
Plaintiffs' AI-citation objection matter · U.S. District Court (magistrate judge and objections order)
“Finally, Plaintiffs [sic] objects to the Magistrate Judge’s “criticism” of his use of artificial intelligence to cite to non-existent case law and errors in other citations.”

Cases that don't exist

  • Solomon v. Norwest Corp., 546 S.E.2d 330 (Ga. 2001)
abovethelaw.com ↗
The file →
  • Plaintiff and his AI-generated filings were called out for fake citations.
  • He cited non-existent case law and then objected to the warning.
  • The court issued a warning, not a monetary sanction.
  • U.S. District Court; federal; location not specified on the page.
  • The page says opposing counsel identified multiple specific false citations, including Solomon v. Norwest Corp.
Warned
A California appeals court ordered a judge to determine whether DA Jesse Wilson should face sanctions after his office submitted AI-fabricated citations in four felony cases.
California Supreme Court Orders Sanctions Review of DA Accused of Using Hallucinating AI · Nevada County District Attorney Jesse Wilson · California Supreme Court · CA
law.com ↗
The file →
  • Nevada County District Attorney Jesse Wilson was accused of using AI-fabricated citations.
  • The filing allegedly contained fake, artificial intelligence-generated citations.
  • The California Supreme Court ordered a lower court to consider sanctions.
  • Court: California Supreme Court, California.
  • January 16, 2026 article; Wilson said human error, not generative AI, caused the errors.
Warned
The Supreme Court said lawyers were filing AI-drafted petitions containing fake judgments and warned that some cited cases and quotes did not exist.
Roop Rekha Verma PIL · Supreme Court of India
“We are alarmed to reflect that some lawyers have started using AI to draft petitions.”
dailypioneer.com ↗
The file →
  • Roop Rekha Verma’s PIL was before the Supreme Court
  • The bench said AI-drafted petitions contained non-existent judgments and fake quotes
  • No sanction was imposed; the court issued a warning
  • Supreme Court of India, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant
  • Feb. 18, 2026; Justice Nagarathna cited 'Mercy vs Mankind' and said some quoted portions did not exist
Warned
A federal judge ordered an attorney at Arete Law Group to file a sworn declaration after opposing counsel alleged dozens of AI hallucinations in multiple filings.
Arete Law Group matter · Arete Law Group · U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington · WA
law360.com ↗
The file →
  • Arete Law Group was the firm identified in the article.
  • Opposing counsel alleged dozens of artificial intelligence hallucinations across multiple case filings.
  • The judge ordered a sworn declaration, signaling possible sanctions.
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Washington.
  • Feb. 5, 2026; the article does not name the AI tool or quote the judge.
Warned ChatGPT
Three lawyers were warned after using ChatGPT to cite fake or incorrect legal cases in court, and two were ordered to take an AI training course.
Dutch lawyers warned for misusing ChatGPT in court · Three lawyers in the Netherlands
nltimes.nl ↗
The file →
  • Three lawyers in the Netherlands were warned
  • They misused ChatGPT to cite fake or incorrect legal cases in court
  • Sanction was a warning, and two lawyers had to take an AI training course
  • No court or judge name is given in the page text
  • The report says two were ordered to take an AI training course
Warned
The Supreme Court said John Jones cited authorities that appeared to have been hallucinated by an AI application and warned such misuse could lead to contempt.
John Jones · John Jones · Supreme Court of New Zealand
“"Misuse of AI in legal proceedings has serious implications for the administration of justice and public confidence in the justice system,"”
lawnews.nz ↗
The file →
  • John Jones was the litigant identified by the Supreme Court.
  • He submitted authorities that appeared to be hallucinated by an AI application.
  • The court warned the misuse could amount to contempt of court.
  • Supreme Court of New Zealand; judges Ellen France, Stephen Kós, and Forrie Miller.
  • February 16, 2026; the page says self-represented litigants must ensure authorities are genuine.
Warned ChatGPT
A firm filed two briefs with five false ChatGPT-generated citations, and a federal judge was considering sanctions and potential fines.
another firm · federal judge
courtroomsciences.com ↗
The file →
  • Another firm faced possible sanctions for false citations.
  • Attorneys filed two briefs containing five ChatGPT-generated false citations.
  • The judge was considering sanctions and potential fines; no amount is given.
  • A federal judge in federal court.
  • The partner admitted using ChatGPT without verification and the firm apologized.
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