D.D.C.: General Order for Civil Cases, Paragraph 15: Use of Generative Artificial Intelli…
Hon. Reggie B. Walton, Senior U.S. District Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Verified September 28, 2026
- Citation
- General Order for Civil Cases, Paragraph 15: Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Judge Reggie B. Walton, D.D.C.)
- Order date
- December 10, 2025
Summary
'Although the use of generative artificial intelligence tools', including ChatGPT or Google Bard, 'is not prohibited, counsel are expected to comply with all legal and ethical obligations in the drafting and submission of documents to the Court.'
What does the order require?
- 'Although the use of generative artificial intelligence tools', including ChatGPT or Google Bard, 'is not prohibited, counsel are expected to comply with all legal and ethical obligations in the drafting and submission of documents to the Court.'
- This 'includes ensuring that any and all representations', including those relating to the record and all legal authority, 'are complete and accurate.'
- If the court becomes aware of a violation relating to generative AI tools, 'the attorney, law firm, or party that violated these obligations may be sanctioned pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(c).'
- Counsel's 'obligation to prevent the disclosure to unauthorized parties all sensitive information, such as personal identifying information, medical information, or confidential or proprietary information, extends to the use of generative artificial intelligence tools.'
Practice areas: federal civil
What the order provides
Paragraph 15 of Judge Reggie B. Walton’s General Order for Civil Cases, “Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence,” reads in part:
“Although the use of generative artificial intelligence tools”, including “ChatGPT or Google Bard”, “is not prohibited, counsel are expected to comply with all legal and ethical obligations in the drafting and submission of documents to the Court. This includes ensuring that any and all representations”, including “those relating to the record and all legal authority”, “are complete and accurate. Counsel are advised that if the Court becomes aware of any violation of these obligations relating to the use of generative artificial intelligence tools, the attorney, law firm, or party that violated these obligations may be sanctioned pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(c).”
It adds that counsel’s “obligation to prevent the disclosure to unauthorized parties all sensitive information, such as personal identifying information, medical information, or confidential or proprietary information, extends to the use of generative artificial intelligence tools.”
The same paragraph appears in the general orders in Campaign Legal Center v. DHS, No. 1:25-cv-3828, ECF 13 (D.D.C. Dec. 10, 2025) and Total Fright Productions, LLC v. Turner, No. 1:26-cv-2304, ECF 8 (D.D.C. Aug. 10, 2026).
Scope
The paragraph applies in cases where the updated general order is entered. The two orders above show repeated use, but no chambers-wide source establishes that it is entered in every civil case assigned to Judge Walton, and the template posted on his court webpage predates it. Counsel in a Walton matter should check the general order entered on their own docket.