UK judges are sounding the alarm after lawyers cited AI-generated fake cases in courtrooms, raising questions about tech’s role in justice. High Court Justice Victoria Sharp warned unchecked AI use could “undermine public confidence” in legal systems – and even lead to criminal charges for attorneys who skip fact-checking.
When Bots Replace Law Books
In two eyebrow-raising cases:
A lawyer defending a $120M Qatar National Bank dispute cited 18 non-existent cases sourced from public AI tools
Another attorney referenced five fake precedents in a tenant housing claim
While the clients claimed “accidental” errors, Justice Sharp called it “extraordinary” that legal pros relied on unchecked AI outputs. Both cases were referred to regulators, though no charges were filed yet.
Life Sentences on the Line?
Sharp clarified that submitting AI hallucinations as facts could constitute contempt of court or even “perverting justice” – a crime carrying life imprisonment in extreme cases. Yet she acknowledged AI’s potential as a “powerful tool” if used responsibly.
“Without proper oversight, we risk trading efficiency for integrity,”
the ruling stated, urging legal teams to maintain “old-school verification” habits in the ChatGPT era.
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