The majority of the respondents (70 %) said their courts are currently not allowing employees to use AI -based tools for the court’s business. 75 % of respondents said their court has not yet provided any AI training.
Washington – The Thomson Reuters Institute, a part of the global content and technology company Thomson Writers (TSX/NYSE: TRI), has issued 2025 surveys of state courts: “Staff, Operations and Technology for the Thomson Writers Institute/National Center for State Courts.” The consortium was created to help the judiciary aware of the AI, which helps them make informed decisions about their safe use.
The report conducted a survey of judges and professionals of the US state, county and municipal courts to collect ideas about changes that change existing actions and changes.
Work burden and staff shortage causes stress
Daily operations in the courts are under pressure. Last year, 68 % of the courts reported staff shortage – 71 % in state courts and 56 % in county/municipal courts. Looking forward, 61 % expect constant shortages over the next 12 months. In addition, about 46 % believe that the shortage of skilled workers will have a change in the courts over the next five years.
There are long hours with these pressure. 53 % of respondents reported working between an average of 40 and 45 hours a week. More than 46 hours a week works 38 % extra.
Despite the long hours, only half the judicial professionals (52 %) said they had enough time to do their job. If the extra work time was available, the respondents said they were more likely to spend it on case management or case preparation (19 %).
45 % of the respondents reported an increase in their cassiness than last year, and 39 % said the problems they were dealing with have become more complicated. 24 % of the respondents reported an increase in judicial delay, while they reported a reduction of 18 %. In addition, 77 % said they had a delay of 15 minutes or more for hearing every week.
OI opportunity
Technology, especially Genai, is capable of helping the courts handle the workloads while maintaining the quality of service. However, only 17 % of the respondents said their court was using General AI, and 17 % additional said their court was planning to adopt Geni technology next year. This means that a year from a year will barely use Genai a third of the respondents’ courts.
Despite the slow pace of adoption, 55 % of the respondents have ranked AI and Genai as the changes or more effects on the courts over the next five years. He also acknowledged the possibility of performance benefits, court professionals predicted that the next year would help save an average of three hours a week, which increases by about 9 9 hours a week within five years.
“As the report has been identified, we face challenges – the staff does not think they have so much time to meet their demands, and they are working more hours to do the job, and because of this, the Los Angeles County High Court and the High Court of the High Court of Los Angeles County.
The majority of the respondents (70 %) said their courts are currently not allowing employees to use AI -based tools for the court’s business. 75 % of respondents said their court has not yet provided any AI training.
68 % of courts reported staff shortage.
48 % of judicial professionals say they don’t have enough time to do their job.
Judicial professionals have predicted that the AI will save them up to 9 hours a week in five years, but only 17 % say their court is using livelihood today.
Concerns about AI include that it will cause more than 35 % of technology to control, or that it will be used maliciously for fake orders and evidence (25 %). Only 9 % of the AI was worried about the loss of jobs.
“The courts are facing changes in their workforce through generation AI and generation changes in their workforce,” said Mike Abbott, head of the Thomson Writers Institute, at the same time they continue to deal with staff shortages, back blogs and delays. “
He added that “AI Literacy can empower the courts to understand both technology -related risks and opportunities, which helps identify the best use issues that help them focus on high cost work. Finally, the future is one of the best use of justice to achieve better results.
A copy of the “Staffing, Operations and Technology: 2025 Survey of State Courts” can be downloaded here.
Thomson Reuters Institute/National Center for State Courts AI Policy Consortium for Law
The Thomson Writers Institute/National Center for State Courts AI Policy Consortium Law and Courts started in 2024 to inform the judiciary of AI and Generative AI solutions and challenges and thus enabled judges and legal and judicial professionals to adopt and use it. Just one year after its inception, this partnership has developed several white articles, hosted an ongoing monthly Webinar series, and provided other guidance for enhancing the education of the judiciary and the legal community about AI technology and solutions.
About the national center for state courts
The National Center for State Courts, headquarters in Williamsburg, Wah, is a non -profit court organization dedicated to the innovation and progress of driving in the courts and justice systems. In 1971, the Chief Justice and the Chief Justice of the United States were set up by the Warren E. Burger, NCSC Conference, provides education, training, technology, management, and research and design to the state courts and courts around the world. For more information, visit NCSC.org.
About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters (TSX/NESDK: TRI) inform the path forward by collecting reliable content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government and media professionals. This product combines the most special software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence and solutions needed to help the data, intelligence, and the data, intelligence, and the truth and transparency needed to make informed decisions to professionals. Reuters, a part of Thomson Writers, is a world leading provider of reliable journalism and news. For more information, visit the TR.com.
