WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today made public responses from U.S. Southern District of Mississippi Judge Henry T. Wingate, U.S. District of New Jersey Judge Julien Xavier Neals and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AO) Director Robert Conrad regarding Wingate and Neals’ use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to draft factually inaccurate court orders.

Both judges admitted to Grassley that their staff used generative AI to draft error-ridden orders. These orders misquoted state law, referenced individuals who didn’t appear in the case and attributed fake quotes to defendants, among other significant inaccuracies.

“Honesty is always the best policy. I commend Judges Wingate and Neals for acknowledging their mistakes and I’m glad to hear they’re working to make sure this doesn’t happen again, Grassley said “Each federal judge, and the judiciary as an institution, has an obligation to ensure the use of generative AI does not violate litigants’ rights or prevent fair treatment under the law. The judicial branch needs to develop more decisive, meaningful and permanent AI policies and guidelines. We can’t allow laziness, apathy or overreliance on artificial assistance to upend the Judiciary’s commitment to integrity and factual accuracy. As always, my oversight will continue.”

In response to Grassley’s oversight, Wingate and Neals have implemented corrective measures to verify the accuracy of their court orders. Wingate now requires all draft opinions, orders and memos to undergo a second independent review and requires all cited cases to be printed and attached to the final draft. Neals implemented a written policy that prohibits all law clerks and interns from using AI when drafting opinions or orders, as well as a multi-level opinion review policy.

The AO also wrote to Grassley to describe their recently established advisory AI Task Force, which issued interim AI guidance on July 31, 2025. According to the AO, the July guidance includes “general, non-technical suggestions” that allow for “the use of and experimentation with AI tools.” Among these suggestions is the recommendation that AI users consider “whether the use of AI should be disclosed.” The AO stated these suggestions are non-exhaustive and are intended to provide temporary guideposts while more permanent policies are developed.

Read Wingate’s full response to Grassley HERE.
Read Neals’ full response to Grassley HERE.
Read AO’s full response to Grassley HERE.

Background:
The Senate Judiciary Committee has broad oversight and legislative jurisdiction over civil and criminal judicial proceedings, the federal courts, federal judges and other related matters. Errors caused by the use of artificial intelligence, like those found in the decisions issued by Wingate and Neals, cast doubt on the Judiciary’s deliberative process and raise legitimate concerns about the accuracy of courts’ decisions.

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