Articles Posted in American Bar Association

As artificial intelligence, including generative AI, becomes increasingly common in litigation, judges across the United States are working to establish guidelines to prevent its misuse in court. Since Judge Brantley Starr of the Northern District of Texas issued the first standing order on AI in legal filings in 2023, more than 200 state and federal judges have followed suit, creating new standing orders, local rules, and pretrial guidance to address AI use and its potential pitfalls. Just last month, the newly established Texas Business Court included a caution on AI in its inaugural Local Rules.

This rapidly shifting landscape reflects judges’ efforts to address both the opportunities and challenges that AI presents. However, no uniform approach has yet emerged, with judges charting individual courses in their courtrooms and some broadening their orders to cover evidentiary concerns amid growing fears of deep fake evidence. While some judges are exploring ways to integrate AI responsibly, their primary focus remains on curbing its misuse. Practitioners should stay informed, as courts continue to adapt to this evolving frontier.

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Sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA), Science and Technology Section.

November 21, 2024, 1:00 – 2:00pm ET.

“The ABA Science & Technology Law Section’s Technical Standardization Committee (TSC) invites you to a webinar briefing with the latest developments in public policy around technical standards. Prompted by rapid technology developments like those related to artificial intelligence (AI), Congress and the executive branch are working quickly to address observed and potential opportunities and risks posed to tech developers and consumers.”

American Bar Association:

Register for the upcoming webinar, Prosecutorial Independence and the Rule of Law, at: www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/445186848/

“We are living in a pivotal moment when democratic norms and the rule of law are being challenged in novel and unexpected ways as we struggle to adapt to rapid technological and cultural changes that have changed our relationships and dialogue with each other.  In maintaining the rule of law, prosecutorial discretion and independence are essential. Yet not everyone believes that prosecutorial independence exists or understands why it matters. In this panel, former Department of Justice leaders and veteran prosecutors will explore recent challenges to prosecutorial independence and the rule of law at the federal level, including the Project 2025 proposal by the Heritage Foundation.”

News From: Jon M. Garon, Chair, Cyberspace Law Committee, Business Law Section American Bar Association:

Dear Colleagues:

Here is the latest news about Cyberspace law, including AI, fintech, privacy, cybersecurity, crypto, digital personas and so much more. We look forward to seeing many of you in San Diego. Please join us for our CLEs, working meetings, and planning sessions.

In August 2023, Mary Smith, President of the American Bar Association (ABA), announced the creation of the ABA  Presidential Taskforce on Law and Artificial Intelligence to “bring together lawyers and judges from across the ABA to address the impact of AI on the legal profession and the practice of law.” From it’s beginning, the Taskforce has been concentrating it’s efforts on a broad array of critical AI issues of concern to ABA, including AI’s impact on the legal profession, the courts, legal education, access to justice, governance, risk management, and challenges with generative AI. During the past year, the Task Force has been active on a number of fronts, addressing these issues from various perspectives, including the preparation of it’s Task Force Report on the Impact of AI on the Practice of Law: Year 1 On the Impact of AI on the Practice of Law, released August 2024.

Quoting from the Report: “This Report addresses the critical AI issues that impact lawyers and judges in the practice of law, and provides insights and resources that will equip the legal community to effectively address and leverage these developments. Given the rapid pace of change in the AI landscape (the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released new guidance documents as this Report was being finalized), and the  need to give the AI developments the attention they deserve, the AI Task Force will continue its work in the new bar year (2024-25).

Highlights of the AI Task Force’s year [as mentioned in the Report] include:

Tuesday August 24 2024 through August 28.

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