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In a landmark move blending tradition with technology, the New York State Court System on Friday unveiled an Interim Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence, setting out the first comprehensive rules governing AI use by judges and court employees. The policy takes immediate effect and may evolve as the legal system continues to grapple with emerging technologies.

Announced by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas, the policy stems from a special committee formed in April 2024 to study how artificial intelligence could reshape the Unified Court System (UCS).

“This interim policy represents a collective effort to communicate clearly about this fast-moving technology and to ease concerns over its application in the judiciary,” said Associate Justice Angela Iannacci, co-chair of the AI advisory committee.

Balancing Innovation and Integrity

The seven-page document outlines what kinds of AI tools may be used for court work, emphasizing both the potential and perils of artificial intelligence. It applies to all UCS judges, justices, and nonjudicial staff, covering every court-owned device and all UCS-related duties.

“AI can enhance efficiency and productivity,” Judge Zayas said in a Friday statement, “but it must be used with extreme care. It is not a substitute for human judgment, discretion, or decision-making.”

The policy mandates that only approved AI tools be used, requiring initial and ongoing training for all personnel with computer access. Any output generated by AI—such as draft documents or data summaries—must be thoroughly reviewed by a human to ensure accuracy, fairness, and inclusive language.

Guardrails to Prevent Bias and Breaches

The committee flagged several dangers of AI use in legal contexts, including the risk of fabricated information, bias, and exposure of confidential materials. Judges are strictly barred from using AI to render decisions, and nonjudicial employees may not employ the technology in ways that violate ethical obligations.

All confidentiality and data security rules that govern court records now explicitly extend to AI systems. The policy warns that information entered into public AI models should be treated as if it will become instantly public.

Approved Tools and Banned Practices

Among the greenlit tools are Microsoft Azure AI Services, Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot for Business or Enterprise, and Trados Studio. The free version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT is also permitted—though paid subscriptions remain off-limits.

Any judicial officer facing ethical uncertainties related to AI use is encouraged to consult the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, according to Friday’s press release.

Judicial Responsibility in the Age of Algorithms

“We have an obligation to understand AI’s strengths and weaknesses so we can use it wisely and responsibly,” said First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George. “This policy ensures we uphold justice while embracing innovation.”

The move comes amid a surge of sanctions against attorneys who’ve cited fake or AI-generated cases in court filings. As those incidents multiply, federal and state judges alike are rethinking how to discipline misuse—shifting from financial penalties to professional consequences that strike at reputations.

With this new policy, New York’s judiciary positions itself at the forefront of a national debate—seeking to harness artificial intelligence not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a tool to reinforce it.