N.D. Ga.: Guidelines to Parties and Counsel in Civil Cases, Section 3.A (Disclosure of Us…

What the guidelines require

Section 3.A of Judge Tiffany R. Johnson’s Guidelines to Parties and Counsel in Civil Cases (modified September 1, 2026) provides: “Counsel and pro se parties must disclose the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) to prepare documents filed and submitted to the Court. If AI was used in any way to prepare a filing or submission to the Court or chambers, counsel and pro se parties are REQUIRED to sign and file a Disclosure of Use of Artificial Intelligence.” The disclosure states:

“This document was generated with the assistance of [identify AI tool name]. I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that, despite reliance on an AI tool, I have independently reviewed this document to confirm accuracy, legitimacy, and use of good and applicable law, pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”

The section pre-empts the common excuses: mistake, lack of technical expertise, and time constraints “are typically not recognized by the Court as a good faith excuse.” It addresses hallucinated cases directly: “arguments in briefs to the Court that are supported by AI-generated caselaw (i.e., cases that do not actually exist) are not acceptable.” And it authorizes “appropriate sanctions, up to and including dismissal and/or default judgment.”

What changed in September 2026

The earlier civil standing order required disclosure of AI used “in any capacity to prepare documents submitted to the Court.” The September 2026 guidelines drop “in any capacity” and tie the duty to AI used “to prepare documents filed and submitted to the Court,” though the next sentence still triggers the disclosure if AI “was used in any way to prepare a filing or submission.” The certification text and the sanctions are unchanged in substance.

Within the district

Judge Steve C. Jones’s instructions use the same disclosure template, keep the “in any capacity” wording, and add a bar on putting protective-order material into AI tools. Judge Steven D. Grimberg’s standing order allocates responsibility without requiring disclosure. The certification language is closely mirrored by Judge Craig L. Schwall’s Fulton County Superior Court standing order (2025-07-11).

Primary source

Guidelines to Parties and Counsel in Civil Cases Proceeding Before the Honorable Tiffany R. Johnson, modified September 1, 2026 (PDF)