‘That’s Not a Real Person’ Judges Halt AI-Generated Lawyer in New York Appeals Court
In a moment that felt plucked straight from a sci-fi courtroom drama, a New York appeals court was taken by surprise when an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated avatar tried to argue a legal case. The judges weren’t amused. What was meant to be a clever workaround quickly turned into an uncomfortable intersection of future tech and age-old court protocol. On March 26, 2025, 74-year-old plaintiff Jerome Dewald showed up at the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division for an employment dispute hearing. Instead of speaking for himself or having a lawyer at his side, Dewald played a prerecorded video, not of him, but of a lifelike digital avatar that began delivering his legal argument with polished confidence. The avatar, which looked like a well-dressed young man, began addressing the panel: “May it please the court …” before proceedings came to a halt.
The justices were visibly taken aback. Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels paused the presentation almost immediately and asked a shocking question: “Is that counsel for the case?” Dewald’s matter-of-fact reply, “I generated that. That’s not a real person,” prompted an immediate rebuke. The judge ordered the video stopped and made it clear she felt misled. “It would have been nice to know that when you made your application,” she said, underlining that courts operate on transparency and direct human responsibility. Dewald later explained he wasn’t trying to game the system or make a viral spectacle. He said he struggles with public speaking and thought a digital delivery might help him make his case more clearly. But judges made it clear that AI, at least for now, isn’t a substitute for a licensed attorney arguing in real time, nor a replacement for the human interaction that law depends on.
The incident sparked an online debate, ranging from amusement at the oddly comic visuals to serious questions about where the legal system draws the line between innovation and impropriety. One thing is certain: This awkward debut points to the urgent need for clear rules on AI in courtrooms as technology continues its relentless march forward.
THE LOGIC BEHIND A FLAT-FEE DUI DEFENSE ONE PRICE, FULL FIGHT
Mounting a strong defense on behalf of clients charged with DUI can be a lot of work, including corralling witnesses and gathering evidence through discovery. I was asked recently how much I actually spend defending a client. Sometimes, it’s a lot.
conviction, including state surcharges and auto-insurance premium increases, far exceeds the $5,000 flat fee we charge to defend them. Building Trust Clear pricing builds trust, setting the stage for the kind of honest communication with clients that helps us build a strong defense. It’s important for our clients to disclose exactly what happened that led to their arrest. We also want them to freely share details about their medical background, health conditions, and medications that might distort the results of breath or blood tests. Delivering Value Not every case requires paying for an expert witness or toxicology test. Many require a candid conversation with a patient prosecutor who listens and hasn’t prejudged the defendant. My strong, respectful relationships with prosecutors all over the state are, in effect, priceless because they lay the groundwork for those conversations.
Yet we typically charge only a flat fee. Here’s why.
Easing Stress Getting hit with a DUI is a stressful experience, and piling on anxiety about money only makes it worse. Vague, open-ended billing invites mistrust between attorney and client. Some clients come to us after quitting other lawyers who never
disclosed what they actually intended to do in return for their fees. Instead, clients got a boilerplate pitch: “I need half up-front, half in 30 days, wham, bam, I’ll do the best I can … but I can’t guarantee anything.” We spend up to an hour with prospective clients, explaining how the process works, how I would defend them, and potential outcomes. We also work to reach a payment agreement clients can afford. Some are able to finance legal fees up front and repay the loan in monthly installments. In time, most realize that the total cost of a potential DUI
At the end of the day, our philosophy on pricing is not only about the money. It’s about making a difference in people’s lives, generating goodwill, and spreading the word that our firm is worth hiring. If you are facing DUI charges, we hope you will trust us with your defense.
2 | StevenEllmanLaw.com
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