US federal judges increasingly turn to AI – study

Over half of surveyed representatives of top judicial authorities are increasingly using AI to prepare for hearings and draft rulings

Over half of US federal judges (60%) are using at least one AI tool in their judicial work, a recent Northwestern University study suggests. The research is based on responses from 112 federal judges, drawn from a random sample of 502 federal bankruptcy, magistrate, district court, and appellate court officials.

The use of AI in courtrooms has recently drawn attention for fabricated citations and other errors that have undermined confidence in some filings. The survey published earlier this week shows that these tools are now being adopted not just by lawyers, but also by federal judges.

The survey found that 60% of judges use AI at least occasionally for tasks such as reviewing documents, conducting legal research, and drafting or editing documents. Around 22% use it daily or weekly. Legal research was the most common (30%), followed by reviewing documents (16%).

Around one in three judges said they permit or encourage AI in their chambers, while 20% formally prohibit it. More than 45% reported that they have not received AI training from the court administration.

While judges acknowledge the risks of AI, experts warn that its unreliability could undermine judicial authority.

“Judges make decisions that are very important to people and resolve significant disputes,” Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago, said. “They cannot gamble with a technology that is not fully understood and is known to hallucinate.”

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Proponents argue that AI could improve efficiency and help manage heavy caseloads. “We are cautious but early results are very positive,” Christopher Patterson, a Florida chief judge, said. “We are assessing accuracy, suitability, and time savings.”

US courts have recently warned and sanctioned attorneys over AI-generated content. In March, New York judges urged verification of AI citations after several briefs included fabricated cases. Bloomberg reported in December that AI-hallucinated citations are a growing problem, and the previous month, several lawyers were fined for filings containing hundreds of false AI-generated citations.

Concerns are rising worldwide over the impact of AI on work, the labor market, and people’s mental and physical health. AI often produces false or misleading information, and experts warn that relying on it for life-and-death decisions is especially dangerous, raising questions about safety, accountability, and societal effects.