Guides for court professionals

Participatory action research (PAR) engages court participants, staff, legal professionals, and community members by gathering direct feedback on their experiences with the court and potential areas for improvement. Our guide provides guidance on how to involve the community in research.

The Joint Technology Committee has produced a guide to help court administrators, IT leaders, judges, legal teams and staff to establish cybersecurity measures including incident response teams, regular risk assessments, clear communication strategies and maintenance of public trust, in order to guard against a growing threat of cybercrimes such as ransomware, malware, phishing and insider threats.

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) provides various resources and guides for court management, ranging from implementing AI and cybersecurity basics to improving civil justice accessibility and expediting family cases through the use of triage tools.

Prepare for an increasingly AI-integrated world and successfully integrate AI into your court operations. This guide offers a comprehensive framework for assessing the current state of AI readiness in the court, and taking concrete steps to improve AI readiness.

Understand considerations for courts that are just beginning to think about AI and discover how to get started by building foundations.

Learn practical steps for identifying a specific AI project.

Guidance for courts that have already completed at least one successful AI implementation and are ready to begin a post-project feedback cycle.

Modern courthouse planning and design requires the careful consideration of many factors to ensure safety, access, and the fair and efficient administration of justice. Adapted from guidelines developed by NCSC and the Supreme Court of Virginia, this guide offers proven strategies and adaptable best practices to navigate the complexities of trial court facilities projects, from pre-planning to project completion.

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has developed a comprehensive Justice for All guide, funded by various foundations, to assist courts, lawyers, and community groups in improving civil justice accessibility and addressing unmet needs, aided by expert input and feedback gathered since its launch in 2016.