Hays County, Texas (District Courts): Hays County District Courts Local Rule 1.6 (Certifi…
Judges Sherri K. Tibbe (453rd), Tracie Wright-Reneau (207th), Joe Pool (428th), R. Bruce Boyer (22nd), Gary L. Steel (274th) and Tanner Neidhardt (483rd) · District Courts of Hays County, Texas
Verified October 1, 2026
- Citation
- Hays County District Courts Local Rule 1.6 (Certification Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence)
- Order date
- August 21, 2024
Summary
Rule 1.6: 'All self-represented litigants and attorneys who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in connection with any civil or criminal case shall before filing or presenting to a court any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding certify in writing that:'
What does the order require?
- Rule 1.6: 'All self-represented litigants and attorneys who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in connection with any civil or criminal case shall before filing or presenting to a court any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding certify in writing that:'
- The certification states that all information created or contributed to by generative AI, including language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis, 'was verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas prior to submission'.
- It also states that the person 'will be held responsible and subject to possible sanction under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10, and the inherent power of the Court, or for contempt of court for failing to comply with this Rule.'
Practice areas: state civil, state criminal, state family
What the rule requires
Rule 1.6 of the Local Rules for the District Courts of Hays County (effective Aug. 21, 2024), “Certification Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence,” provides that “All self-represented litigants and attorneys who utilize any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in connection with any civil or criminal case shall before filing or presenting to a court any AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding certify in writing that”:
- all information created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence, including all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis, “was verified as accurate through traditional (non-AI) legal sources by an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas prior to submission”; and
- “The person understands and acknowledges that they are and will be held responsible and subject to possible sanction under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10, and the inherent power of the Court, or for contempt of court for failing to comply with this Rule.”
Adoption and posting
The judges of the 453rd, 207th, 428th, 22nd, 274th and 483rd District Courts adopted the rules by a standing order effective August 21, 2024. The rules supersede the district courts’ earlier local rules. 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 rules as posted August 23, 2024.
Related orders
The Hays County Courts at Law adopted a similar certification as their Local Rule 1.07 in 2025.
Primary source
Local Rules for the District Courts of Hays County (scanned PDF), OCA local-rules portal