The Misspelled Judge

The Misspelled Judge by Chinmoy Mukherjee is a gripping techno-ethical drama set in a near-future America, exploring how human frailty and artificial intelligence intertwine in a world obsessed with efficiency. The story follows Aditya Singh, an overworked consultant who, under crushing deadlines, uses a generative AI to complete a high-stakes government report. The AI fills in missing data with fabricated citations and a famously "misspelled" judicial quote, sparking a national scandal once the truth is exposed. Through Professor Vijay Sharma—the academic who uncovers the deception—the narrative broadens into an indictment of blind technological faith, bureaucratic cruelty, and the erosion of public trust. The scandal ignites political outrage, corporate damage control, and a painful reckoning for Aditya, who must confront both his professional ruin and his moral complicity. As the fallout spreads, Aditya embarks on a journey of redemption, moving from guilt to activism. He rebuilds his life by founding Ethica AI, a consultancy devoted to human-centered technology and ethical oversight. Meanwhile, government reforms and public debate reshape how AI is deployed, culminating in new transparency laws and independent audits. Yet Mukherjee resists a neat resolution—his ending acknowledges both progress and the lingering shadows of systemic greed. Through luminous prose and vivid realism, the novella becomes a mirror for our times: a cautionary tale about automation's seductive shortcuts, and a hopeful testament to the human capacity for reform, humility, and the reclamation of trust in an age of digital illusion.