Access to legal representation is a cornerstone of the American justice system, yet millions of Americans live in communities where legal assistance is scarce, difficult to reach, or entirely unavailable. These areas, commonly known as “legal deserts,” are geographic regions where the number of practicing attorneys is grossly insufficient to meet the legal needs of …
Read MoreThe SJI Board of Directors will be meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 1:00 PM CT. The purpose of this meeting is to consider grant applications for the 4th quarter of FY 2026, and other business. ADDRESS: Oklahoma Judicial Center, 2100 N Lincoln Blvd #4 , Oklahoma City, OK.
Read MoreA partnership between the Innovation for Justice (i4J), the National Center for State Courts and the State Justice Institute – The Legal Deserts Problem-Solving Project focuses on extensive legal deserts mapping, using GIS technology, to help courts and their justice system partners gain deeper insights into the needs of people living in legal deserts. The project establishes an expansive inventory of …
Read MoreJury managers and court leaders grapple with a common problem: how to summon the right number of jurors efficiently, without placing an unnecessary burden on the community or eroding public confidence in the courts. Recent updates to NCSC’s CourTools Measure 8: Effective Use of Jurors give courts more accurate, standardized tools for measuring jury yield …
Read MoreNew on The Docket: Interview with Michelle White, Senior Program Advisor at the State Justice Institute, featured by the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks (NCACC) Education Fund Committee. In this insightful Q&A, Michelle shares her perspective on judicial education, the importance of professional development for court professionals, and how partnerships between organizations like SJI …
Read MoreThe SJI Board met on June 15, 2026, and awarded 12 new grant applications totaling $763,601 for the 3rd quarter of FY 2026. The Board awarded three (3) Strategic Initiative Grants (SIG) to: National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to close the gap between guardianship innovation and practice by identifying drivers and barriers to reform, building court …
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