
“That’s not a real person”: NY judges shut down AI avatar in courtroom twist
New York State appellate judges. A 74-year-old entrepreneur without legal training, he was there to contest a ruling in his employment case. But the real twist wasn’t in the lawsuit. It came when the video he submitted began playing in court.
A young, clean-cut man appeared on the courtroom screen. “May it please the court,” the digital figure began. “I come here today a humble pro se before a panel of five distinguished justices.”
It took just seconds for Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels to interrupt. “Ok, hold on. Is that counsel for the case?”
“No,” Dewald replied from his seat. “I generated that. That’s not a real person.”
“I don’t appreciate being misled”
The courtroom fell silent. The judge, visibly irked, responded sharply.
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“It would have been nice to know that when you made your application. You did not tell me that, sir,” said Justice Manzanet-Daniels. She then raised her voice across the courtroom: “Shut that off. I don’t appreciate being misled.”
The moment, captured on court cameras, has since stirred debate about the growing influence—and misuse—of AI in legal spaces.
Why an AI Avatar?
In an interview with The Associated Press, Dewald explained his reasoning. Representing himself in court had proven difficult. His voice often faltered under pressure. So, he applied to submit a pre-recorded video—and used AI to deliver it more clearly.
“I generated that,” Dewald admitted again. “That is not a real person.” He had used software developed by a San Francisco tech firm to build the avatar. Although he had initially intended to create a version that resembled him, technical issues got in the way.
“The court was really upset about it,” he said. “They chewed me up pretty good.”
In a letter to