AI Readiness for the State Courts – The National Center for State Courts

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has brought together experts and practitioners to develop comprehensive guidance on AI Readiness for the state courts. The project, funded by SJI, aims to provide resources for courts along the whole spectrum of AI maturity, from courts that are just beginning to think about AI to courts that have already implemented AI projects.

The AI Readiness Workgroup includes court leaders, court practitioners on the cutting edge of AI implementation, and experts in court technology, psychology, computer science, design, and law. In a 2-day kickoff gathering in Chicago, pictured below, the workgroup heard presentations from subject-matter experts, engaged in brainstorming and problem-solving activities, reviewed existing guidance on AI for courts, and viewed demonstrations from courts that have already implemented ambitious AI projects.

The Workgroup from the kickoff meeting held in Chicago, IL.

The Workgroup is currently hard at work drafting a variety of resources for courts that are just beginning their AI journeys. Topics include establishing the court’s AI governance structure, building AI literacy in the court workforce, assessing data governance practices for AI readiness, identifying AI opportunities, and updating policies. Once these resources are developed, the Workgroup will tackle resources for courts that are already at various stages of AI development, including topics like vetting technology vendors, implementing change management, and evaluating AI outcomes.

The project is scheduled to conclude in Summer 2025, but interim deliverables will be published as they become available, beginning in the Spring.

This project builds on the foundations of earlier work by NCSC and other organizations, including COSCA and NACM. For more information, see the AI Rapid Response Team Resource Center.

SJI Board Awards FY 2025 First Quarter Grants

The 1st Quarter Board Meeting was held on December 9, 2024, at the Supreme Court of Virginia in Richmond, VA.  Members of the SJI Board, Executive Director, Jonathan Mattiello, and Senior Program Advisor, Michelle White, were joined by Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Marla Decker, State Court Administrator Karl Hade, and other court staff.

SJI received fourteen grant applications requesting a total of $1,459,487 for the 1st quarter of FY 2025.

The Board awarded one Strategic Initiative Grant to the Justice Management Institute to assess online case resolution (OCR) feasibility nationwide, introduce OCR to two states and plan for pilots in two jurisdictions.

Three (3) Project Grants were awarded to: 1) the Maryland Judiciary to support a statewide behavioral health summit; 2) the National Association for Court Management to develop and deliver nationally significant educational programs to include in-person and remote opportunities; and 3) to the Montana Supreme Court to create infrastructure to grow the cadre of skilled Community Justice Workers, and build state approval for the non-attorney advocates to represent consumer debtors and tenants in evictions.

Six (6) Technical Assistance Grant applications were awarded: 1) the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration to develop a Behavioral Health Action Plan to be disseminated to judicial officers statewide; 2) Washington County, Oregon, to establish a framework that will lead to positive outcomes for probation and justice-involved youth; 3) the Judicial Council of California to improve caseflow management in all case types; 4) the Second Judicial District Court to assess operations and caseflow management in the court; 5) the Idaho Supreme Court to support a strategic planning initiative; and 6) Supreme Court of New Mexico to conduct an in-depth study of the process for admission to the New Mexico Bar. 

Two (2) Curriculum Adaptation and Training Grants were awarded: 1) the Oregon Judicial Department to host a statewide training summit for the jury services staff; and 2) the National Association of Women Judges to develop training on AI for courts focused on helping self-represented litigants (SRLs). The training, offered at conferences and online, will cover AI tools that enhance judicial efficiency, detect falsified evidence, and support SRLs.

The next deadline for grant applications is February 1, 2025.

FY 2025 1st Quarter SJI Board Meeting

The FY 2025 1st Quarter SJI Board meeting was held yesterday, December 9th, 2024, at the Supreme Court of Virginia, in Richmond, VA. SJI Executive Director, Jonathan Mattiello, Senior Program Advisor, Michelle White, and members of the SJI Board were joined by Karl R. Hade, of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

#SJIBoardofDirectors #SJIBoard #SupremeCourtofVirginia #StateJusticeInstitute

The Rural Justice Collaborative Digest for December 2024

Funded by the State Justice Institute, the National Center for State Courts, in partnership with Rulo Strategies LLC, launched the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC) to showcase the strengths of rural communities and highlight the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. These strengths include strong professional networks, deep ties to the communities they serve, resiliency, and ingenuity. The Rural Justice Collaborative is guided by an advisory council of rural practitioners representing the judiciary, public safety, behavioral health, public health, child welfare, victim services and other stakeholder-focused justice systems. The advisory council guides the initiative and has focused initial efforts on advancing innovation, promoting collaboration, and raising awareness of rural justice system needs.

Upcoming Webinar! Unveiling the ACORN Pilot Results and Path Forward for Assessment Center

The National Assessment Center Association, in partnership with the National Center for Juvenile Justice and Dr. Jeff Kretschmar, will be unveiling the results of the State Justice Institute (SJI) funded Assessment Center Outcome Reporting Network (ACORN) Cohort!

ACORN is an effort to establish consistent performance and outcome measures for Assessment Centers nationwide. This initiative empowers communities to assess their impact on prevention, diversion, and early intervention, paving the way for improved outcomes for youth and families.

Date: December 17th, 2024
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST
Cost: FREE

Join us for an in-depth review of the ACORN pilot project, featuring:

  • Key findings from comprehensive data reviews and mock ACORN reports.
  • Insights from participating Assessment Center staff on challenges, successes, and future goals.
  • Actionable recommendations for statewide and national expansion of ACORN.

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Probation and Youth Justice System Review – RFK National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice

The RFK National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice (RFKNRCJJ) has used a proven framework to partner with state and local jurisdictions to conduct multiple probation and youth justice system reviews designed to improve outcomes for youth and families at-risk or involved in the juvenile justice systems for more than fifteen years. RFK’s successful technical assistance partnerships have produced an impressive array of positive innovations and reforms to the policies and operations that impact youth outcomes and increase community safety.

The RFK National Resource Center is applying these positive experiences and lessons learned in the Probation and Youth Justice System Project in Clark County, Washington; San Diego County, California; and the tri-county District 25 in the state of North Carolina. The project will produce replicable methods, approaches and operations for probation, courts, and the broader youth justice system.

The RFK National Resource Center has produced other resources and guides that permit youth justice system reviews to be successfully replicated nationwide.

RFK will be hosting a 2025 Transformation of Youth Justice National Symposium in San Diego, California on June 18-20, 2025, designed for multi-disciplinary professionals and youth-serving stakeholders committed to advancing youth justice transformation.

The Rural Justice Collaborative Digest for November 2024

Funded by the State Justice Institute, the National Center for State Courts, in partnership with Rulo Strategies LLC, launched the Rural Justice Collaborative (RJC) to showcase the strengths of rural communities and highlight the cross-sector collaboration that is a hallmark of rural justice systems. These strengths include strong professional networks, deep ties to the communities they serve, resiliency, and ingenuity. The Rural Justice Collaborative is guided by an advisory council of rural practitioners representing the judiciary, public safety, behavioral health, public health, child welfare, victim services and other stakeholder-focused justice systems. The advisory council guides the initiative and has focused initial efforts on advancing innovation, promoting collaboration, and raising awareness of rural justice system needs.

COSCA, NCSC Offer Essential Guidance for Courts Navigating the AI Revolution

Gaining an understanding of the potential impacts of generative AI has become increasingly important to state court administrators. To help demystify this emerging technology, the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) has published, “Generative AI and the Future of the Courts.”

This policy paper recognizes the historical impact of artificial intelligence on court operations and procedures—both positive and negative—from streamlining administrative tasks to supplementing efforts to provide greater access to justice.

“COSCA believes that generative AI is poised to change the workplace as dramatically as the introduction of computers and case management software did in the early 1980s. We believe it can be used to substantially improve employee processes in many areas beyond legal research,” the paper states.

The comprehensive, 16-page policy paper outlines AI’s transformative potential within the judicial system and provides guidance for courts on its responsible implementation.

Read the full article here: COSCA, NCSC offer essential guidance for courts navigating the AI revolution | NCSC.

Upcoming Webinar! Civil Diversion Outcomes: Preliminary Data and Findings from the NCSC Eviction Diversion Initiative

Join the National Center for State Courts on November 21st, 2024, at 3:00PM EST for the final session of the Civil Diversion Webinar Series.

Learn more about the work happening through the Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) #grant program and some of the preliminary findings about its transformative impact. Successful civil diversion programs leverage existing legal, financial, and social service resources in a community to provide support to litigants who want to resolve their disputes outside of traditional litigation. Learn how #courts around the country are thinking creatively and holistically as they work to help litigants address both the immediate legal crisis and their underlying needs through strong collaborative partnerships with community service providers. In this session, panelists will discuss how courts have thoughtfully engaged with #community partners to bolster their #civildiversion programs and better meet the needs of their litigants in these high-volume dockets.

Register here.