Storyline
ChatGPT fake citations in US legal proceedings 2026
One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.
1 DAYS
10 FACTS
1 EVENTS
1 SOURCES
FIRST ENTRY SEP 11
SEP 11 · Day 1
US lawyer cites fake witnesses in murder case, blames ChatGPT
Aarons was handling the appeal of Oscar Renee Sandoval, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Aarons said he used ChatGPT to summarise the trial proceedings and did not understand the degree to which AI could 'hallucinate' facts.
The court fined Aarons $5,000 and said it will refer him to an attorney disciplinary board for investigation.