Aiming to curtail the glut of courtroom filings containing hallucinated authorized citations, the Florida Supreme Courtroom as we speak issued a brand new rule that requires the signer of any doc filed in any Florida courtroom to characterize that “the authorized authorities recognized exist and are precisely cited.”
The courtroom’s order (Opinion_SC2026-0673) additionally provides a rule that expressly authorizes courts to impose sanctions for any submitting inconsistent with that required illustration.
The brand new rule comes as an modification Florida Rule of Common Observe and Judicial Administration 2.515(d)(2), which already required attorneys signing courtroom filings to certify that they settle for accountability for the doc and that they’ve complied with relevant guidelines of courtroom process.
However this modification not solely provides the accurate-citation certification, but in addition extends it to each attorneys and unrepresented events.
“Given the demonstrated dangers of generative AI and to advertise the accuracy and integrity of courtroom filings, we amend rule 2.515(d)(2) to require the signer of a submitting to characterize that the authorized authorities recognized in that submitting ‘exist and are precisely cited,’” the courtroom in a per curiam order.
The modification additionally particularly authorizes courts to impose sanctions for any courtroom filings inconsistent with this illustration, after offering the signer discover and a possibility to be heard. The courtroom specifies that sanctions could embody reprimand, contempt, hanging of the doc, dismissal of proceedings, prices, attorneys’ charges or different sanctions.
In commentary accompanying the order, the courtroom says that it adopted these amendments primarily to create a uniform, statewide rule to switch the assorted orders which were imposed by decrease courts regarding the usage of AI in filings.
The amended rule takes impact on June 15, 2026.
As a result of the courtroom issued the order by itself movement, with out offering a possibility for public remark, it’s permitting feedback to be filed now.
It has set Aug. 11 because the deadline for feedback, after which it might schedule an oral argument.
Licensed Florida attorneys should file feedback by the Florida Courts E-Submitting Portal. Others could file by the portal or by mail or ship to Florida Supreme Courtroom, Workplace of the Clerk, 500 South Duval Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
