The New York state court system announced a new policy on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by judges and court staff on Friday, aligning with at least four other US states that have implemented similar regulations in the past year. The interim policy, applicable to all judges, justices, and nonjudicial employees in the New York Unified Court System, sets limitations on generative AI usage and mandates training for court personnel.
Under the new policy, judges and staff are prohibited from entering confidential or privileged information, or documents submitted in court, into generative AI tools that do not operate on private models.
The court system has not provided details on how the policy will be monitored. However, the policy emphasizes the importance of avoiding harmful biases, stereotypes, or prejudices in court work. It stresses that judges and staff are responsible for ensuring AI use aligns with their ethical obligations.
Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas stated, “While AI can enhance productivity, it must be utilized with great care. It is not designed to replace human judgment, discretion, or decision-making.”
Several other states, including California, Delaware, Illinois, and Arizona, have already implemented AI policies for their courts, while others are evaluating AI’s role in the judicial process.
Meanwhile, the use of AI in legal work has raised concerns, with lawyers facing sanctions for using incorrect AI-generated information, such as fictitious case citations. US Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley recently questioned federal judges regarding potential AI involvement in orders containing substantive errors.
