Where this leaves the Arizona case
Within hours of sentencing, the defense noticed an appeal. Even if the panel finds error, it could call it harmless. But if a remand happens, the opinion will likely read like a policy memo for trial courts nationwide — disclosure, authentication, and a clean record on what the judge did and didn’t rely on. Expect more families to try AI-assisted statements. Don’t expect a flood. Expect new house rules.
“As a former inside-the-system legal analyst, I’m not anti-technology — I’m pro-procedure. The real question isn’t whether more families will create AI versions of their deceased loved ones—it’s whether our courts will develop coherent standards for evaluating this evidence before the practice becomes routine.” — Samuel Lopez | USA Herald Legal Correspondent
