M.D. Pa.: Standing Order on Use of Generative AI (Judge Karoline Mehalchick, M.D. Pa.)
Judge Karoline Mehalchick · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Verified May 8, 2026
- Citation
- Standing Order on Use of Generative AI (Judge Karoline Mehalchick, M.D. Pa.)
- Order date
- November 1, 2024
Summary
Any party, whether appearing pro se or through counsel, who utilizes any generative AI tool in the preparation of any document filed in any matter pending before Judge Mehalchick must include with the document a Certificate of Use of Generative AI.
What does the order require?
- Any party, whether appearing pro se or through counsel, who utilizes any generative AI tool in the preparation of any document filed in any matter pending before Judge Mehalchick must include with the document a Certificate of Use of Generative AI.
- The certificate must disclose the specific AI tool that was used.
- The certificate must disclose the portions of the filing prepared by the AI program.
- The certificate must certify that a person has checked the accuracy of any portion of the document generated by AI, including all citations and legal authority.
- Failure to comply with this Order may result in sanctions.
Practice areas: federal civil
What the order requires
Judge Mehalchick’s standing order originated as a case-specific Civil Practice Order in E.J. v. Johnson, No. 3:23-CV-1636 (M.D. Pa. Aug. 19, 2024), which contemporaneous reporting characterized as “the first of its kind” in M.D. Pa. The order was subsequently generalized as a chambers-wide standing rule in November 2024, applying to all matters pending before Judge Mehalchick. The operative text is identical between the case-specific and standing versions.
The rule requires a Certificate of Use of Generative AI to accompany any document filed before Judge Mehalchick, disclosing the specific AI tool, the AI-drafted portions, and certifying human review for accuracy including all citations and legal authority. Failure to comply may result in sanctions.
M.D. Pa. chambers cluster
Mehalchick’s order is the template adopted by Magistrate Judges Latella and Caraballo. The three judges’ orders share the same Certificate of Use of Generative AI requirement and sanctions backstop. Mehalchick was first among the three; the others followed.
Quotable line
“Failure to comply with this Order may result in sanctions.”