Author: Lauren Curtis

The Rural Justice Exchange is a publication dedicated to advancing collaboration, innovation, and learning across the rural justice and behavioral health landscape. Each issue highlights emerging research, promising practices, and local success stories that reflect the unique strengths and challenges of rural communities. Through features such as articles, podcasts, webinars, and program spotlights, the Exchange showcases how practitioners, policymakers, and partners are working together to build resilient communities. Designed as a resource for rural leaders and practitioners, the Exchange connects readers to practical tools, evidence-based strategies, and peer experiences that inspire meaningful and sustainable change in rural systems.

View the February 2026 Edition here.

Seventy-six percent of state courts are limited jurisdiction courts serving local communities—often under-resourced and without the same access to modern technology as larger court systems.

To advance modernization and improve access to justice in these jurisdictions, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is launching a new initiative focused on applying AI tools to address long-standing structural challenges that limit efficiency, accessibility, and service quality in rural courts. The effort is supported by Microsoft, whose technology will inform potential solutions. The initiative aims to help close the digital divide facing the nation’s rural courts. “Because small and rural often sit at the intersection of the digital divide and legal deserts, this work carries significant implications for access to justice and equity,” said Nicole Waters, NCSC director of data, analytics, and forecasting. “Through this initiative, NCSC will work directly with courts to modernize operations and develop practical solutions that can be adapted by rural courts nationwide.”

Cohort courts

Four rural courts, or courts serving underrepresented communities, will be selected to participate in a hands-on, year-long process. NCSC will work closely with court staff to identify operational challenges and workflows that will guide the development and testing of AI-enabled solutions. NCSC will also provide training and technical assistance to support long-term sustainability.

“Microsoft has developed tools that may be useful for some of these jurisdictions when paired with the right guidance and implementation support,” Waters said. “NCSC’s role is to help courts assess what works, implement appropriate solutions, and share lessons learned more broadly.”

Apply to participate Courts can learn more about the opportunity during a March 10th webinar, “AI solutions for courts to address the digital divide,” at 3PM EST. Waters and staff from NCSC, joined by representatives from Microsoft, will share additional details about the initiative and application process. Participating courts are expected to be selected in May.

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) offers a range of practical resources to help courts understand and adopt artificial intelligence responsibly, including a set of AI readiness materials that give courts a clear framework for assessing preparedness, identifying risks and opportunities, and planning for responsible implementation that was made possible through support from the State Justice Institute. These resources help court leaders understand where their organization stands today and outline concrete steps to build capacity, strengthen governance, and ensure that AI tools are used in ways that support fairness, transparency, and public trust. In addition to the AI readiness framework, NCSC provides guidance on topics such as document automation, data analytics, chatbots, and other emerging tools that can improve efficiency and access to justice. Courts can also explore policy guidance, national examples, and opportunities to learn from peers through ongoing webinars and collaborative forums.

Featured AI resources:

• AI readiness for state courtsA comprehensive framework that helps court leaders assess their current level of AI readiness and identify concrete steps to improve preparedness.
• AI guides and resources
  A curated listing of NCSC tools and resources to assist courts in understanding and responding to emerging AI-related issues.
• TRI/NCSC AI Policy Consortium for Law & Courts
  A collaboration between NCSC and the Thomson Reuters Institute that brings together courts, legal professionals, and technologists to develop shared principles, guidance, and model approaches for AI governance.
• AI Policy Consortium webinar series
  A monthly webinar series that educates the judiciary and legal professionals about AI and generative AI, helping judges make informed decisions about adoption and use.
• AI and state court guidelinesAn interactive map showcasing court orders, rules, proposed rules, and AI-related guidelines and policies from across the nation.
• Court AI Implementers’ Forum
  A collaborative community for court professionals working on AI initiatives to exchange ideas, share lessons learned, and connect with peers.
• NCSC AI Sandbox
  A low-pressure, hands-on chatbot environment designed for court professionals to safely explore AI. Participants can test tools and build confidence knowing their data will not be used to train commercial AI models.

For more information on NCSC’s AI resources and the SJI-supported readiness materials, visit ncsc.org/ai.

Children, teens, and young adults often enter the justice system because their health, education, and safety needs aren’t met. As a result, justice systems are dealing with challenges they were never designed to address. The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center’s new research-based guide can help states prevent violence, expand opportunities, and keep youth out of the justice system. The Youth Safety Playbook for States includes a community-based service continuum, strategies for financing, infrastructure, policy, service, workforce, and a checklist for implementing each strategy This playbook is a product of the CSG Justice Center’s Collaborating for Youth and Public Safety Initiative (CYPSI), which partners with states to strengthen and scale research-based services and supports for youth and their families.

Access the playbook here: Youth Safety Playbook for States – CSG Justice Center