AI drives 58% surge in US federal self-represented lawsuits
pro se lawsuits jumped from 11% to 16.8% since 2023, with 59% of civil case growth linked to ai-generated filings.
research from mit and usc shows a sharp rise in self-represented litigants using ai to draft legal documents, ending a two-decade plateau of 11% pro se filings. the rate hit 16.8% in fy2025, accounting for 59% of total civil case growth, with ai-detected text in complaints rising from near zero to 18% in early 2026. this activity surge increased court docket entries by 158%, prompting judicial concern over administrative burdens. judges report cases often cluster in specific districts like vermont, driven by online guides promoting tools like microsoft copilot for filing mandamus petitions.