DALLAS — September 30, 2026 — Dallas County District Attorney write-in candidate Eric Reed today called for clear, enforceable safeguards governing the use of artificial intelligence in criminal prosecutions, court filings and the daily operations of the District Attorney’s Office.
“Artificial intelligence can help improve efficiency, but it must not become the decision-maker or a shortcut that compromises Constitutional rights,” Reed said. “A prosecutor’s decisions can affect a person’s freedom, family and future. No charging decision, plea recommendation or sentencing position should ever be handed over to an algorithm.”
Generative AI can rapidly analyze information, but it can also produce false citations, inaccurate summaries and convincing statements unsupported by evidence. Moreover, it can misinterpret evidence when context, nuance and human judgment are essential to understanding the facts of the case.
If AI overlooks, misclassifies or inaccurately summarizes evidence, the error could contribute to a due process violation—or even a wrongful conviction.
In February 2025, the Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas issued Ethics Opinion 705, warning attorneys about inaccurate AI-generated material, the exposure of confidential information and the need for meaningful attorney supervision.
The opinion makes clear that lawyers remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of work produced with AI assistance.
Reed said every court filing submitted by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office must be reviewed, verified and signed by a licensed attorney. Prosecutors must also comply with all applicable court rules, standing orders and disclosure requirements governing the use of generative AI.
“A machine cannot sign a pleading, answer to a judge or accept responsibility for an error,” Reed said. “The prosecutor whose name appears on a filing must personally verify the law, the facts and every citation in it. Accountability cannot be automated.”
Under Reed’s leadership, the District Attorney’s Office would adopt a written AI policy built around five requirements:
- Human responsibility: AI would never make final decisions about charges, bail recommendations, plea offers, diversion eligibility, sentencing positions or witness credibility.
- Independent verification: Every AI-assisted statement, citation, summary and legal argument would be checked against original and authoritative sources.
- Protection of sensitive information: Evidence, victim information, criminal-history data, confidential records and protected work product could not be entered into public or unapproved AI systems.
- Court compliance and transparency: Prosecutors would follow every applicable disclosure rule and standing order and identify AI assistance whenever required by the court.
- Training and oversight: Attorneys and staff would receive continuing instruction on accuracy, confidentiality, bias, cybersecurity and their constitutional disclosure obligations.
The policy would also require the office to evaluate AI vendors before adoption, restrict access to approved systems and preserve appropriate records showing when AI materially contributed to legal work. Vendors would not be permitted to reuse sensitive case information to train their models.
“AI may help organize information, but it cannot understand fairness, exercise conscience or carry the ethical responsibility entrusted to a prosecutor,” Reed said. “Dallas County needs leadership that will use new technology responsibly without surrendering human judgment, due process or accountability.”
About Eric Reed for District Attorney:
Eric Reed is a Dallas trial attorney and former prosecutor with more than three decades of experience in criminal law, federal and tribal courts, and complex litigation. He is running as a write-in candidate for Dallas County District Attorney on a commitment to Promote Public Safety • Demand Fairness • Ensure Accountability.
To vote for Eric Reed, select the write-in option in the Dallas County District Attorney race and enter the name Eric Reed.
For more information, visit www.WriteinReed.com.
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