AI-Generated Avatar in Courtroom Sparks Judicial Reprimand and Raises Ethical Concerns

Jerome Dewald, representing himself in a New York court, apologized after using an AI-generated avatar to present legal arguments without prior disclosure, fueling debates on AI's role in legal processes.

• Jerome Dewald, a 74-year-old retiree, used an AI-generated avatar to present his case during a legal appeal in a New York courtroom on March 26, 2025.
• Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels halted the proceedings, reprimanding Dewald for not disclosing the use of the avatar and expressing frustration over being misled.
• Dewald later apologized in a letter to the court, explaining that he used the AI tool to articulate his arguments more clearly due to personal communication challenges.
• The incident has reignited discussions about transparency, ethical boundaries, and the procedural challenges of integrating AI into legal systems.
• This case adds to a series of controversies involving AI in legal contexts, including prior instances of AI-generated errors and regulatory penalties for misuse in legal research.

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