New Orleans attorneys resign amid improper AI use investigation
By Bun Choum, Erin Lowrey
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NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — Two attorneys in the City of New Orleans Law Department have resigned after an investigation found they used artificial intelligence to create fake case citations in a court filing.
The resignations follow sanctions issued by a federal judge, who ruled that both attorneys filed a motion that included nine made-up case citations generated by AI.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ordered the attorneys to appear in court after he discovered the false citations in a January 2026 motion filed in a lawsuit brought by Daniel Gentry. Gentry is suing the City of New Orleans, former Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the New Orleans Police Department and several officers, claiming they violated his civil rights.
According to federal court records, Assistant City Attorney Jalen Harris admitted during a March 19 hearing that he used ChatGPT to help research the motion. He said he first searched Westlaw but then turned to AI to speed up the work. Harris said he did not check whether the AI‑generated cases were real and did not read them before adding them to the brief. He apologized repeatedly in court.
Harris has worked in the City Attorney’s Office since 2024. The court ruled that his actions violated Rule 11, which requires lawyers to make sure their filings are based on real law and facts.
Deputy City Attorney James Roquemore also apologized. As Harris’s supervisor, he reviewed the motion before it was filed but did not question the strange formatting of the fake citations, which appeared as bullet points. The court said Roquemore held more responsibility because he supervised Harris and has 30 years of legal experience.
Chief Deputy City Attorney Corwin St. Raymond and newly appointed City Attorney Charline Gipson also addressed the court. Gipson took office only three days before the motion was filed but was listed on the signature block. Both officials said the office has already taken steps to stop improper AI use, including a department-wide meeting, new training and a written policy on AI.
The City Attorney’s Office said the new AI policy took effect on March 27.
Below is a statement from New Orleans City Attorney Charline Gipson about the changes:
“The City Attorney’s Office takes every step to ensure accuracy in directing and supervising the legal affairs of the City of New Orleans. Early in the administration, it was discovered that artificial intelligence was used in connection with a pleading submitted to federal court. The City Attorney was not enrolled in the case when the offending brief was submitted. Two attorneys in the Law Department were sanctioned by the Court in connection with the filing and those attorneys have subsequently tendered their respective resignations. Effective March 27, 2026, the City Attorney implemented a Law Department Policy regarding the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In addition to mandating disclosure of any previous use of AI in the production of work product, the Office now also requires annual certification of compliance with the policy. The policy recognizes the benefits of innovation and efficiency offered by AI, which is rapidly transforming the legal field, while safeguarding against the potential harms and misuse or abuse of AI.”
In an order signed March 20, Judge Barbier said the attorneys appeared genuinely remorseful. But he ruled that they violated Rule 11 and needed to face consequences.
The judge ordered Harris to pay a $250 fine and Roquemore to pay $1,000. The court did not fine St. Raymond but issued him a formal warning about improper AI use in his department.
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