On May 28, 2026, the Florida Supreme Court adopted a significant amendment to Rule 2.515(d)(2), establishing a uniform statewide certification requirement for legal authorities…
On May 28, 2026, the Florida Supreme Court adopted a significant amendment to Rule 2.515(d)(2), establishing a uniform statewide certification requirement for legal authorities cited in court filings. Effective June 15, 2026, attorneys and self-represented litigants appearing before any Florida court must certify that the legal authorities referenced in their filings actually exist and are accurately cited. The amendment is a direct response to growing concerns over the proliferation of fabricated citations, particularly those generated by artificial intelligence tools, and signals a decisive shift in how Florida courts will police the integrity of submitted authorities.
Until now, Florida practitioners navigated a fragmented landscape of circuit-level AI disclosure orders that varied considerably from one jurisdiction to another. Some circuits required affirmative disclosures whenever generative AI was used in preparing a filing, while others imposed verification obligations of differing scope and stringency. The amended rule consolidates these inconsistent requirements into a single, enforceable statewide standard. For firms and litigants operating across multiple Florida venues, this should meaningfully streamline compliance, replacing circuit-by-circuit review with one clear obligation: verify before you cite.
The rule also makes clear that judges are expressly authorized to impose sanctions where citations are fabricated, including in cases where the offending citation originated from an AI tool. Significantly, the duty of verification is non-delegable. Reliance on a research assistant, a third-party platform, or a generative AI product will not insulate a filer from sanctions if the cited authority does not exist or is materially misstated. The professional responsibility to confirm the existence and accuracy of every cited authority rests squarely with the attorney or party signing the filing.
Florida litigants and counsel should take prompt steps to prepare for the June 15, 2026 effective date. This includes revisiting internal citation verification protocols, training personnel on the new certification requirement, and ensuring that any use of AI-assisted legal research is paired with rigorous human review. Firms should also consider updating filing checklists and engagement letters to reflect the heightened standard.
This newsletter is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Clients facing specific questions about compliance with the amended rule should seek tailored advice from qualified counsel.