UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOHN C. FARRIS - Articles

All Content

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOHN C. FARRIS

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 3, 2026

Court: 6th Circuit Court (Published Opinions)

Attorneys 1: Steven N. Howe, STEVEN N. HOWE, P.S.C., Williamstown, Kentucky, for Appellant.

Judge(s): CLAY, GIBBONS, and HERMANDORFER, Circuit Judges

Court Appealed: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Covington

PER CURIAM. This appeal involves John C. Farris’s challenge to his sentence of imprisonment. But today’s opinion does not resolve the underlying merits of Farris’s appeal. We instead address the conduct of Farris’s attorney, Steven N. Howe, who was appointed to represent Farris pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. By his own admission, Howe used artificial intelligence to draft the briefs in this case and then filed them without properly verifying the cited legal authorities. The result was multiple misrepresentations of law to this Court. This opinion details Howe’s conduct and the consequences that follow. Additionally, by separate order issued on this same date, we remove Howe from further representation of Farris and order the Clerk to (i) appoint replacement counsel under the Criminal Justice Act, (ii) lock the briefs Howe filed on behalf of Farris, and (iii) reset the briefing schedule upon appointment of replacement counsel.

Attachments: