AI response team releases interim guidance and resources for state courts

Courts looking for guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) have new resources at their fingertips thanks to the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) AI Rapid Response Team (RRT).
Working with NCSC, the AI RRT has developed the first in a series of interim guidance and compiled resources to help state courts understand artificial intelligence and generative AI. The AI RRT is a joint project of NCSC, the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA).

The interim guidance talking points identify challenges and areas of concern for courts to consider when dealing with AI, including the erosion of public trust and confidence, the need for ethical guidelines and court rules, and education on deepfakes.

“Artificial intelligence is already impacting the courts, and we must be prepared and forward-thinking when it comes to addressing how AI can be used effectively, efficiently, and ethically to promote the administration of justice,” said CCJ President and AI RRT Co-Chair Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals.

The interim guidance also identifies potential applications of AI in court operations, including streamlining internal court processes, developing tools for self-represented litigants, and creating informational content for court visitors.

The AI RRT resource center features current information and resources for both state and federal courts, including:

• Data visualization map of court activities by state
• State court orders, rules, proposed rules, statutes, and proposed legislation
• Caselaw and decisions
• State court guidelines and policies
• Ethics
• State task forces or committees
• Federal courts and international resources
• Articles and other resources

“AI can be a tool to aid courts, lawyers, and litigants in the right circumstances, but it is not a replacement for judges and lawyers, and there must be guardrails in place to ensure that it is ethically used by courts and parties,” said Shay Cleary, an NCSC managing director and AI RRT staff lead.