FL 6th Circuit (Pinellas), Family Court Section 22 only: Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas…
Judge William H. Burgess, III · Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Family Court Division Section 22 (Pinellas County)
Verified April 27, 2026
- Citation
- Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas) Family Court Section 22 Standing Order on the Use of AI in Legal Filings
- Order date
- January 20, 2026
Summary
Mandatory disclosure when AI is used for legal research reflected in text, drafting any portion, or summarizing legal sources or facts; the filing must include a 'Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence Use' identifying each tool by name (e.g., ChatGPT, Lexis+ AI, Westlaw AI), describing manner of use, stating whether AI text appears directly in the document, and affirming no confidential or privileged information was inputted.
What does the order require?
- Mandatory disclosure when AI is used for legal research reflected in text, drafting any portion, or summarizing legal sources or facts; the filing must include a 'Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence Use' identifying each tool by name (e.g., ChatGPT, Lexis+ AI, Westlaw AI), describing manner of use, stating whether AI text appears directly in the document, and affirming no confidential or privileged information was inputted.
- If no AI was used, a No-Use Statement is required: 'I certify that no generative artificial intelligence tool was used in the preparation of this filing or submission, or in conducting research for it.'
- Mandatory accuracy certification above signature: 'I certify that I have personally reviewed this filing or submission, verified the accuracy of all legal authorities and factual assertions through traditional methods, and conducted a reasonable inquiry into the truth and accuracy of all statements herein.'
- Reliance on AI is not considered reasonable inquiry under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.515; Fla. Stat. § 57.105 sanctions authority is invoked.
- Prohibited uses: ad hominem attacks, fabricating legal authority/facts/evidence, harassing or voluminous filings, expert-like medical or psychological conclusions without a qualified human source.
- Pure proofreading tools (spelling, punctuation, word choice) that do not rewrite meaning and do not expose data to open AI systems are excluded.
Practice areas: state family
What the order requires
Judge William H. Burgess, III, sitting in Section 22 of the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Family Court Division (Pinellas County), issued this standing order on January 20, 2026. It is the most thorough AI standing order located in the Florida tracker, comparable in detail to Magistrate Judge Kang’s N.D. Cal. order but adapted to a family-court setting.
Two design choices stand out. First, the order requires a No-Use Statement when AI was not used; absence of the disclosure does not satisfy the rule. Second, the order categorically rejects “AI use as reasonable inquiry,” tying sanctions exposure to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515 and Fla. Stat. § 57.105.
Scope and caveat
This is a single-judge order applying only to Section 22 of Pinellas County family court. The Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas/Pasco) has not issued a circuit-wide AI administrative order. Practitioners with other Section assignments in the 6th Circuit should not assume the Burgess framework applies.
Primary source
Standing order PDF: https://www.jud6.org/LegalCommunity/PracticeRequirements/Circuit/Burgess/Section2220260119%20AI%20Standing%20Orderi.pdf