U.S State Judicial Systems Show Hesitancy Towards GenAI, Amidst Persisting Employee Shortages and Court Backlogs
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A new report reveals that U.S. courts are cautiously adopting AI technology, despite facing significant operational strains and staffing shortages.
The Thomson Reuters Institute, in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) AI Policy Consortium for Law and Courts, has released a report titled "Staffing, Operations and Technology: A 2025 survey of State Courts". The survey, conducted among 443 court judges and professionals, sheds light on the current status of AI adoption in U.S. state, county, and municipal courts.
As of mid-2025, AI adoption remains limited, with only about 17% of courts currently using generative AI. Another 17% plan to adopt it soon. Court professionals are hopeful about the potential benefits of AI, particularly for managing backlogs and helping self-represented litigants.
The report highlights AI's promise in improving court services, such as through large language models (LLMs) and targeted monitoring applications like guardianship oversight. However, many courts remain cautious, balancing hope for relief against concerns about reliability, accountability, and proper implementation.
Court staff anticipate continued staff shortages in the next 12 months, with 68% reporting current shortages. Furthermore, 77% of respondents said they encounter delays of 15 minutes or more for hearings each week.
Despite the slow pace of adoption, 55% of respondents rated AI and GenAI as having a transformational or high impact on courts over the next five years. The report found that nearly 46% believe staff shortages of skilled workers will have a transformational impact on courts in the next five years.
In the broader legal profession, AI adoption is rising—usage has nearly doubled recently to 26%. The legal field is beginning to see AI as both a powerful tool and a source of risk, underscored by incidents where AI-generated court documents contained serious errors that led to sanctions.
Looking ahead, 80% of legal professionals expect AI to have a transformative or high impact on their work within the next five years. Those already using AI report improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and better work-life balance. The NCSC recommends strategic planning steps to navigate AI implementation effectively, indicating that successful integration will require more than just deploying technology—it involves sustainable organizational change.
David Slayton, Executive Officer and Clerk of Court for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, stated that it's incumbent on court leaders to think about how technology can help manage workloads and maintain service quality.
In summary, U.S. courts are cautiously approaching AI adoption amidst operational crises, and court professionals are hopeful but aware of the challenges in deploying AI wisely over the next five years. The report underscores the need for strategic planning and sustainable organizational change to effectively integrate AI into the court system.
- The promise of AI technology in improving court services is evident, with potential benefits such as managing backlogs and assisting self-represented litigants.
- As more court professionals anticipate AI and GenAI to have a transformational impact on courts over the next five years, successful integration will require more than just deploying technology; it involves sustainable organizational change.
