Overview

• U.S. District Judge Terry Moorer issued a public reprimand and a $5,000 sanction payable to the Criminal Justice Act fund against attorney James A. Johnson.
• Johnson’s filing used Ghostwriter Legal, a Microsoft Word plug‑in that relies on ChatGPT, and included fabricated or inaccurate case citations he failed to verify.
• The court referred Johnson to the Southern District of Alabama’s advisory panel for possible removal from the CJA panel.
• The judge ordered Johnson to inform current and future clients about the error and stressed that lawyers remain responsible for checking citations generated by any tool.
• Johnson’s client, Glennie Antonio McGee, said he lost confidence in counsel and was allowed to represent himself, with the court noting the added cost to public funds when replacement counsel must restart work.