This week saw the formal announcement of two new efforts to modernize state court systems through technological improvements. The Pew Charitable Trusts announced an initiative, in partnership with the National Center for State Courts, American Bar Association, state court administrators, and private tech companies, to “modernize key aspects of the nation’s civil legal system and make it more accessible to the public.” Among the projects are developing more online tools for litigants and the public; using artificial intelligence to understand common language legal questions; and expanding online dispute resolution.
Separately, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) released a new report entitled Eighteen Ways Courts Should Use Technology to Better Serve Their Customers. Among the report’s recommendations are:
- Ensure court information and services are accessible through smartphones and ensure up-to-date wayfinding.
- Allow court users to present photos, videos, and other information from their smartphones in court.
- Enable court users to appear by telephone or video conference.
- Facilitate easier scheduling of hearings using common digital calendar platforms.
- Allow online payment of fees and other costs.
- Create opportunities for users to access forms and other case-related information remotely and simplify the completion and filing of those forms, including electronic filing, and eliminate notarization requirements.
- Deliver automated court messaging about upcoming hearings or missed events and allow that messaging to help guide users through the process.
Substantively, both projects are directly responsive to an increasing number of self-represented litigants who desperately need help navigating the legal process. In the spirit of this blog, the projects also demonstrate how the courts can partner with organizations in their immediate environment to improve their outreach and service.
The Interdependent Third Branch 