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In Melbourne, Australia, a senior lawyer has apologized for using AI-generated content that included fake quotes and non-existent case judgments in a murder case. The incident occurred in the Supreme Court of Victoria, where defense lawyer Rishi Nathwani, a King's Counsel, admitted to filing incorrect information in the case of a teenager charged with murder. Nathwani expressed deep regret, stating, "We are deeply sorry and embarrassed for what occurred," during a hearing with Justice James Elliott on Wednesday (August 13).
The AI errors caused a 24-hour delay in the case, which Elliott had hoped to resolve that day. Ultimately, the judge ruled that Nathwani's client, a minor, was not guilty of murder due to mental impairment. Justice Elliott emphasized the importance of accurate submissions, saying, "The ability of the court to rely upon the accuracy of submissions made by counsel is fundamental to the due administration of justice."
The fake submissions included fabricated quotes and non-existent case citations from the Supreme Court. Elliott's associates discovered the errors when they couldn't find the cited cases and requested copies from the defense lawyers. The lawyers admitted the citations "do not exist" and contained "fictitious quotes."
Elliott noted that guidelines for AI use in legal proceedings were released last year, stressing that AI-generated content must be independently verified. The court documents did not specify which AI system was used.