Guidance helps courts expand AI knowledge and adoption 

As courts navigate artificial intelligence adoption, having trusted, practical guidance is essential.

Understanding AI and its numerous impacts on courts can feel overwhelming. The National Center for State Courts’ comprehensive guidance offers a host of reference resources and learning opportunities for courts at all stages of adoption.

“AI brings exciting possibilities for courts, along with some real challenges,” said NCSC Managing Director Shay Cleary. “It’s important to understand what these tools can do, where they fall short, the risks involved, and how they fit into the important work of courts. Deliberate planning will help courts benefit from AI technologies while maintaining public trust and confidence.” 

From document processing and data analytics to chatbots and litigant portals, NCSC tools and guidance help courts build a strong foundation to modernize operations, enhance efficiency, and improve access to justice while safeguarding fairness, transparency, and public trust.

Below are seven featured resources that support court leaders in assessing AI use, understanding risks and benefits, and making informed, ethical decisions about adoption and implementation.

• AI readiness for state courts

A 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 guidelines

An 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 additional resources, visit ncsc.org/ai.

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