Loading…
Every self-represented litigant and attorney who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting or analysis in a case before the district courts of the six counties must, before using AI-generated information in a submission or proceeding, sign and file the attached certification (Exhibit A) that all AI-created or AI-contributed language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis were verified as accurate by a human being through traditional non-AI legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for any failure to comply.
Applies to every attorney and self-represented litigant in any case before the 24th, 135th and 267th District Courts in Calhoun County who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting or analysis (the same order, signed by all four district judges, governs DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties and the 377th District Court). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
STANDING ORDER REGARDING USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE — CALHOUN, DEWITT, GOLIAD, JACKSON, REFUGIO and VICTORIA COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS. This Standing Order of the District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties applies to every pending or hereafter filed case in the District Courts of the named counties. Nothing in this Order should be construed as relieving an attorney or self-represented litigant of any legal or ethical obligation required by law, statute, or rule, including rules of procedure, evidence, or the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Generative artificial intelligence systems (such as ChatGPT, Harvey.AI, Claude, Google Copilot, OpenAI, Bing, Lexis+ AI, Westlaw AI-Assisted Research, Ask Practical Law AI, and others) are being incorporated into common professional use. The abilities of these systems vary widely depending on the application, version, and underlying technology used. While technology is developing quickly, it is currently unreliable, prone to bias, and may fabricate information. The creators of these systems are not attorneys of record, licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Texas, and are not bound by the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. WHEREAS the signing of a pleading or motion in Texas certifies that each claim, defense, or other legal contention in the pleading or motion is warranted by existing laws or by a non-frivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law; WHEREAS courts have the inherent power to sanction parties for violation of rules, orders, standing orders, and statutory obligations; and WHEREAS a court on its own initiative may direct a court participant to show cause why his or her conduct has not violated a rule, order, standing order, statutory obligation; IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT: All self-represented litigants and attorneys who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting, or analysis in connection with a case before this Court shall, before using any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the attached certification form, stating that: 1. All language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence were, before submission, verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being; and 2. The self-represented litigant or attorney submitting such information understands and acknowledges that they are and will be held responsible and potentially sanctioned for their own, their staff's, or their co-counsel's failure to comply with this Order. This Order is effective immediately for all cases filed or pending in the District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties. This Order remains in effect until rescinded or replaced by the District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties and may be modified or amended at any time. The District Clerks for Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties are directed to file this Order with the Office of Court Administration, to post it in the respective county's administrative orders, and to ensure that a file-marked copy is posted as a Public Notice at the clerk's respective County Courthouse and on the respective County's website. SIGNED this 1st day of May, 2026. Judge Kemper Stephen Williams, 135th District Court; Judge Julie C. Bauknight, 267th District Court; Judge Lisa Harvey-Moore, 24th District Court; Judge Eli Garza, 377th District Court. Filed June 4, 2026, Teresa Olascuaga-Garcia, District Clerk, Calhoun County, Texas. EXHIBIT A — CERTIFICATION REGARDING USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Cause No. ____; Plaintiff v. Respondent; In the District Court of ____ Judicial District, ____ County, Texas. I, the undersigned self-represented litigant / attorney of record in the above-entitled and numbered cause pending in a District Court of one of the following counties: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio or Victoria Counties hereby certify as follows: 1. I have reviewed and understand the Standing Order Regarding use of Artificial Intelligence issued by the District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties and I will comply with that Order throughout this case. 2. Any information created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence — including, but not limited to, language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis — was, before submission to this court, independently verified as accurate using traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being. 3. I understand that I remain personally responsible for all filings and submissions to this Court, and that I may be subject to sanctions under the Texas Disciplinary rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 10, the inherent power of the Court, or for contempt of court, for failing to comply with the Court's Standing Order on this certification. SIGNED this ____ day of ____, 202__. *signature* [Self-Represented Litigant / Attorney Name]; State Bar No.; Attorney for; [Address]; [Telephone]; [Email].
STANDING ORDER REGARDING USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE — CALHOUN, DEWITT, GOLIAD, JACKSON, REFUGIO and VICTORIA COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS. This Standing Order of the District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties applies to every pending or hereafter filed case in the District Courts of the named counties. Nothing in this Order should be construed as relieving an
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-07 from the TOPICs custody scan (image-only PDF, three pages incl. Exhibit A, read in full through the vision lane). Six-county instrument registered separately by Refugio (2982), Calhoun (2984), Victoria (2986, with the certification registered as 2987), Jackson (2997) and Goliad (3002); DeWitt did not register it and posts its own copy. This is the Calhoun County edition, bound to Calhoun County (the multi-county per-served-county doctrine). Four current signers, so no single judge join. Carried on /texas/ai-rules.
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.