Every year, the Trends in State Courts report from the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) offers one of the clearest guides to where the judiciary is headed. The 2025 edition is no different. With AI-powered chatbots, risk-based supervision, and tools that enhance court accessibility for the public, it is filled with insights for anyone involved in court operations, technology, or policy.
A clear pattern is emerging. Courts are proactively modernizing now rather than waiting. The focus is not on whether to adopt AI or streamline services, but on how to do it safely, fairly, and at scale.
That is the same space we are working in at eCourtDate.
AI with strong safety features is making courts more innovative and more human. We have developed multilingual messaging agents that help people attend court and stay on track, often without needing to call the court or navigate a website. We assist jurisdictions in monitoring compliance in real time, detecting risks early, and reducing procedural failures. Through GovLink.ai and GovPayPlan.com, we are expanding these capabilities to civic engagement and automated processes.
If you read the NCSC Trends articles about AI-driven tenant tools, guardianship monitoring, or public-facing chatbots, you will see many of the same concepts already in use with eCourtDate in courts across more than a dozen states. We are not taking credit for these ideas. We are simply showing how the trends NCSC has identified are already taking shape through our platform.
This is not a victory lap. It is a call to action.
I encourage everyone in the justice and GovTech community to read the full 2025 Trends report. You will gain a clear view of what is happening in jurisdictions from Minnesota to Pennsylvania to New York and how court staff are solving difficult problems with smart tools.
The National Center for State Courts is an excellent resource. Their research, guidance, and community of practice consistently help courts improve operations, increase access, and work more efficiently.
We are proud to build on the foundation they have helped lay.
Citation:
C. Campbell, J. Holtzclaw, and J. Keller, eds. Trends in State Courts 2025. Williamsburg, VA: National Center for State Courts, 2025.
Available at: https://www.ncsc.org/resources-courts/trends-state-courts
About Greg Shugart
Director of Government Relations
Greg Shugart brings over 30 years of public sector experience to the eCourtDate team, with a background in court administration, criminal justice reform, and government operations. He previously served as Criminal Courts Administrator for Tarrant County, Texas, where he led statewide-recognized initiatives in pretrial modernization, court communications, and system efficiency. Greg now contributes to eCourtDate’s strategy and partnerships, helping agencies implement technology that improves access, compliance, and trust in the justice system.