Bastrop County, Texas (District Courts): Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intel…
Judges Carson Campbell (21st), John D. Winkelmann (335th), Christopher D. Duggan (423rd) and Elizabeth F. Beyer (465th) · 21st, 335th, 423rd and 465th District Courts of Bastrop County, Texas
Verified October 1, 2026
- Citation
- Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (21st, 335th, 423rd and 465th District Courts of Bastrop County, Texas)
- Order date
- February 12, 2025
Summary
Applies 'to every pending or hereafter filed cases' in the 21st, 335th, 423rd and 465th District Courts of Bastrop County.
What does the order require?
- Applies 'to every pending or hereafter filed cases' in the 21st, 335th, 423rd and 465th District Courts of Bastrop County.
- 'All attorneys and self-represented litigants who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in connection with a case shall before using any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding sign and submit the attached form certifying that' all AI-created or AI-contributed content 'were before submission verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas', and that the person 'will be held responsible and potentially sanctioned' for noncompliance.
- The attached certification form states that AI-contributed content 'was verified as accurate using traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being' and acknowledges possible sanctions under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 10 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the court's inherent power, or contempt.
- 'This Order is effective immediately for all cases filed or pending' in those courts.
Practice areas: state civil, state criminal, state family
What the order requires
The judges of the 21st, 335th, 423rd and 465th District Courts of Bastrop County signed a Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (Bastrop Cnty. Dist. Cts. Feb. 12, 2025) that applies to every pending or later-filed case in those courts.
It orders that “All attorneys and self-represented litigants who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in connection with a case shall before using any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding sign and submit the attached form.” The order describes the certification as stating that all content “created by or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence” was “before submission verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas,” and that the filer will be held responsible, and potentially sanctioned, for noncompliance. The attached form itself says the verification was done “by a human being” and acknowledges possible sanctions under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 10 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the court’s inherent power, or contempt.
Versions and posting
Every page carries the footer “Standing Order Use of Artificial Intelligence Amended 7-1-24,” which indicates an earlier version; that version was not located. Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 3a(c), “To be effective, local rules, forms, and standing orders must be published on the Office of Court Administration’s website.” The OCA local-rules portal lists the order as posted February 12, 2025.
Related orders
The 21st and 335th District Courts’ order for Burleson, Lee and Washington Counties is a separate instrument.