Feb. 9, 2026 8p
(WGTD)---A defense attorney called out Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis last month for filing an unchecked brief in a criminal case that was “riddled” with misinformation that had obviously been generated by the use of artificial intelligence.
Although there were reasons cited that went beyond A-I, Judge David Hughes dismissed the case in a hearing that was held last Friday.
According to online court records, Hughes went on to “sanction” Solis for failing to disclose A-I and using hallucinated and false citations.
In an email to reporters Monday, Solis acknowledged the problems, and said his office has “reviewed and reinforced” its practices to avoid such mistakes in the future.
The case in question involved a defendant who was accused with others of breaking into containers at a Bristol trucking company over two years ago. In his ruling, Hughes said the evidence that was presented at a preliminary hearing two years ago was not enough to have warranted a ‘bind-over.’
The A-I matter comes on top of a series of incidents that have been attributed to inexperience and short-staffing in the district attorney’s office.
The number of prosecutors has hovered around a dozen, even though the office has an authorized roster of just over 22.
By comparison, Racine County District Attorney Trish Hanson said last week her office is fully-staffed at 20 prosecutors.
Problems in Kenosha began shortly after Solis—a veteran defense attorney with no prosecutorial experience—took office in January of last year after having won an election. Over a dozen experienced prosecutors who had endorsed Solis’ opponent left.
In an appearance before a Kenosha County Board committee last fall, Deputy Chief Judge Chad Kerkman expressed frustration.
In an email to WGTD last month, Kerkman said the judges continue to experience more scheduling challenges and continuances than in the past which he says affect how efficiently cases move through the system.
Defense attorneys are also experiencing frustrations with the short-staffing and the turnover. Said one privately: "You sit down to discuss a case and seated across from you is a new attorney with no experience with the case or with the law for that matter."
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