In a controversial ruling, Judge Magid Nauef Láuar of Minas Gerais has absolved a 35-year-old man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl, which has drawn criticism for violating norms established by the National Justice Council (CNJ) regarding the use of artificial intelligence in legal processes. A technical opinion from OAB-PR indicates that the judge's decision incorporated fragments of prompts meant for generative AI, suggesting a lack of proper human oversight in the drafting of the ruling. This situation raises serious concerns about the integrity and reliability of legal judgments influenced by AI technology.

The opinion from OAB-PR points out that the inclusion of instructions intended for AI without subsequent human revision contradicts established CNJ regulations aimed at ensuring that AI tools are used responsibly in the legal field. The ruling’s text reportedly contains a prompt instructing to 'improve the exposition and foundation of this paragraph,' highlighting the reliance on AI assistance in an area where human judgment is paramount. This has triggered a backlash from legal advocacy groups who fear the potential for AI misuse in sensitive legal matters.

Despite inquiries from the press, the Minas Gerais state court (TJ-MG) has stated that the judge will not comment on the decision. The incident brings to the forefront discussions about the ethical implications of integrating AI into the judicial decision-making process, pointing to a growing necessity for clear guidelines and oversight to prevent similar occurrences in the future.