Indiana (statewide): Indiana Supreme Court Order Amending Rules of Trial Procedure (Cause…
Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush for the Indiana Supreme Court (all Justices concurring) · Indiana Supreme Court
Verified October 1, 2026
- Citation
- Indiana Supreme Court Order Amending Rules of Trial Procedure (Cause No. 26S-MS-8)
- Order date
- July 14, 2026
Summary
Trial Rule 11(B) (attorneys): 'The signature of an attorney certifies that the attorney has read the pleading, motion, or other submission' and, among other things, 'that any cited legal authority is authentic.'
What does the order require?
- Trial Rule 11(B) (attorneys): 'The signature of an attorney certifies that the attorney has read the pleading, motion, or other submission' and, among other things, 'that any cited legal authority is authentic.'
- Trial Rule 11.1 (parties not represented by an attorney) makes the same signature certification for self-represented filers.
- Trial Rule 11(F): the rule 'applies to all pleadings, motions, and other submissions to the court by parties represented by an attorney, including without limitation those prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence, the internet, or other resources.'
- Trial Rule 11(C): 'A court may strike any filing not in compliance with this rule.'
- New Trial Rule 11.2(A)(2): 'An abusive litigant under this rule is a filer who engages in conduct that may include, but is not limited to, filing frivolous, unreasonable, groundless, or repetitive claims; litigating claims in bad faith; citing fictitious legal authority; or egregiously violating the Rules of Trial Procedure or Rules on Access to Court Records.'
- Trial Rule 11.2(D): after an opportunity for hearing, a court may impose sanctions on a finding of bad faith or that previous remedies have failed; 'The court may sanction any filer or attorney whose conduct resulted in the court's finding. Sanctions may include default, dismissal with prejudice, payment of reasonable expenses, and payment of reasonable attorney's fees.'
- No disclosure of AI use is required.
Practice areas: state civil, state family
What the order does
On July 14, 2026 the Indiana Supreme Court entered an Order Amending Rules of Trial Procedure, effective August 1, 2026. The order explains why: “During the 2026 Judicial District Meetings, trial court judges informed the Court of increasing concerns about voluminous and disorganized litigant filings, including filings prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence and filings containing fictitious legal authority or fabricated legal citations. These issues have caused a delay in case progression, a drain on limited judicial resources, and a threat to public confidence in the judiciary.”
The certification
Amended Trial Rule 11(B) makes an attorney’s signature a certification that the attorney has read the submission, that its factual and legal contentions are supported, and “that any cited legal authority is authentic.” New Trial Rule 11.1 does the same for parties not represented by an attorney. Trial Rule 11(F) states the rule’s reach: “all pleadings, motions, and other submissions to the court by parties represented by an attorney, including without limitation those prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence, the internet, or other resources.”
A court “may strike any filing not in compliance with this rule” (Trial Rule 11(C)).
Abusive litigation
New Trial Rule 11.2 defines an “abusive litigant” as “a filer who engages in conduct that may include, but is not limited to, filing frivolous, unreasonable, groundless, or repetitive claims; litigating claims in bad faith; citing fictitious legal authority; or egregiously violating the Rules of Trial Procedure or Rules on Access to Court Records.” After an opportunity for hearing, and on a finding of bad faith or that earlier remedies have failed, “the court may sanction any filer or attorney whose conduct resulted in the court’s finding. Sanctions may include default, dismissal with prejudice, payment of reasonable expenses, and payment of reasonable attorney’s fees.”
What it does not do
The amendments require no disclosure of AI use and no AI-specific certification. The certification applies to every filing, whether or not AI was used.
Primary source
Indiana Supreme Court, Order Amending Rules of Trial Procedure (July 14, 2026) (PDF)
Indiana Trial Rule 11, current text · Trial Rule 11.2, current text
How this order changed
Dated record of this order's own lifecycle. Where it was amended or withdrawn, the badge shows its standing after that step.
- The Indiana Supreme Court amended the Rules of Trial Procedure, adding a certification that cited legal authority is authentic and new Trial Rules 11.1 and 11.2, effective August 1, 2026. source
- activeThe amendments took effect.