U.S State Courts Handle GenAI With Caution amid Persistent Court Personnel Deficits and Pileups of Cases
The Thomson Reuters Institute, part of global content and technology company Thomson Reuters, has issued a report titled "Staffing, Operations and Technology: A 2025 survey of State Courts." As of mid-2025, AI adoption in U.S. state, county, and municipal courts remains cautious and limited despite significant operational pressures and staffing shortages.
A survey of 443 court judges and professionals revealed that only about 17% of courts are currently using generative AI, and another 17% plan to adopt such technology soon. This is despite widespread recognition of severe staff shortages (68% in state courts, 56% in county/municipal courts), rising caseloads, and increased complexity of cases–all factors that suggest AI could offer substantial relief.
The potential benefits of AI in courts are numerous. It could increase efficiency by assisting with routine tasks and reducing workload burdens on overworked court staff. AI could also improve services for court users, particularly self-represented litigants, through AI-driven chatbots or guided interviews. Enhancing monitoring functions in sensitive areas like guardianships and conservatorships using AI tools is another potential benefit. AI could offer new avenues for data storytelling and communication to improve public understanding of court operations, and it could empower legal aid clients by leveraging AI technologies to help those most in need.
However, there are notable concerns and challenges associated with AI adoption in courts. Judicial reluctance, stemming from caution about AI's impact on legal fairness, accuracy, and integrity of court proceedings, is one such concern. Difficulties in authenticating AI-generated and AI-manipulated evidence, such as deepfakes, call for updated legal frameworks and judicial education. Uncertainties around legal policies governing the use of AI, such as copyright and fair use issues related to AI training data, are still evolving through court decisions and legislation. The need for rigorous testing of AI tools and robust policies to ensure transparency, accountability, and equity in AI deployment is another challenge.
Court professionals predict that in the next year, GenAI will help them save an average of nearly three hours a week, rising to nearly 9 hours a week within five years. However, 77% of respondents said they encounter delays of 15 minutes or more for hearings each week. The survey gathered views on current operations and transformational changes in U.S. State, County, and Municipal courts.
68% of courts reported staff shortages in the past year, with 71% in State courts and 56% in County/Municipal courts. 61% of courts anticipate continued staff shortages in the next 12 months. 53% of respondents reported working between 40 and 45 hours a week on average, with an additional 38% working over 46 hours a week. Only half of court professionals (52%) said they had enough time to get their work done. Nearly 46% believe staff shortages of skilled workers will have a transformational impact on courts in the next five years.
David Slayton, Executive Officer and Clerk of Court for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, stated that technology, particularly GenAI, has the potential to help courts manage workloads while maintaining service quality. Only 17% of respondents said their court is currently using Gen AI, and an additional 17% said their court is planning to adopt GenAI technology over the next year.
The report was conducted with assistance from the Thomson Reuters Institute/National Center for State Courts AI Policy Consortium for Law and Courts. The National Center for State Courts highlights practical steps courts can take to responsibly deploy AI technology, including governance and judicial learning initiatives. However, overall, U.S. courts remain behind the private sector in AI adoption, reflecting a cautious balance between innovation and the preservation of legal standards.
In summary, while AI shows promise for addressing operational challenges in U.S. courts and improving access to justice, adoption is still in early stages with cautious optimism, and careful navigation of ethical, legal, and evidentiary issues remains paramount.
- Despite the numerous potential benefits of artificial-intelligence (AI) in courts, such as assisting with routine tasks, improving services for court users, and enhancing monitoring functions, its adoption in U.S. state, county, and municipal courts remains cautious and limited, with only 17% of courts currently using generative AI, and another 17% planning to adopt it soon.
- The Thomson Reuters Institute's report, "Staffing, Operations and Technology: A 2025 survey of State Courts," revealed that court professionals predict that in the next year, GenAI will help save an average of nearly three hours a week, rising to nearly 9 hours a week within five years. However, staff shortages remain a significant concern, with 68% of courts reporting shortages in the past year and 61% anticipating continued shortages in the next 12 months.
