NCSC is excited to announce the 12 courts selected for participation in the pilot for the Hybrid Hearings Improvement Initiative. The selected jurisdictions are:
- Alaska Court System, Bethel, Alaska
- Phoenix Municipal Court, Phoenix, Ariz.
- 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami, Fla.
- Superior Court of Carroll County, Carrollton, Ga.
- Knox County Superior Court No. 2, Vincennes, Ind.
- 14A District Court, Ann Arbor, Mich.
- White Earth Tribal Court, White Earth, Minn.
- Hinds County Youth Court, Jackson, Miss.
- New Hampshire Circuit Court, Concord, N.H.
- New Mexico Supreme Court, Santa Fe, N.M.
- 394th District Court, Alpine, Texas
- Salt Lake City Justice Court, Salt Lake City, Utah
For participation in the pilot, the review panel looked at several criteria, including a demonstrated interest in improving hybrid hearing effectiveness, the ability to work collaboratively, an openness to creative and innovative thinking about the future of courts, and the ability to share requested data to evaluate the project’s efforts. These courts represent a diverse group of jurisdictions from different geographic regions, various court sizes and structures, and case types.
NCSC is in the process of matching each pilot site with one or more participating project sponsors and vendors. Together, we will design and implement a technical and operational solution that fits the needs of each site. Engagement is set to begin in November. Upon implementation, NCSC will evaluate the process, utility, and outcomes of the technology and its impact on court users.
In addition to the pilot sites, 11 jurisdictions were selected to receive directed technical assistance. For those courts, NCSC will provide technical and operational support for some aspect of their hybrid hearings process. NCSC will be engaging with the technical assistance courts in November. The selected jurisdictions are:
- 8th Region North Child Protection Court, Gainesville, Texas
- 10th Judicial Administrative District, Ga.
- Juan County Superior Court, Friday Harbor, Wash.
- 11th Circuit Court, Manistique, Mich.
- 35th District Court, Brownwood, Texas
- Eighth Judicial District Court, Colfax County, Raton, N.M.
- City of Victoria Municipal Court, Victoria, Texas
- Clark County District Court, Vancouver, Wash.
- 54-B District Court, East Lansing, Mich.
- Superior Court of Guam, Hagåtña, Guam
- Court of First Instance, Judicial Region of Humacao, San Juan, P.R.
NCSC also identified several courts around the country that are already working with viable hybrid hearing solutions. We will be documenting their solutions so we can share that with others nationally.
NCSC received a significant amount of interest in this initiative and will be hosting implementation lab sessions for approximately 65 other courts. Those sessions are expected to commence in the spring.
Arkansas:
- Lonoke County Circuit Court
- White County Circuit Court, 17th Judicial District, Div 3
- First Judicial District of Arkansas Division 5
- 9th Division, 6th Circuit
- 22nd Judicial District of Arkansas, Circuit Court, 4th Division
- Williams Justice & City Court, AZ
- University Lakes Justice Court, AZ
- Denver Juvenile Court, CO
- 1st Judicial District, CO
- Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, FL
Georgia:
- Conasauga Judicial Circuit
- Fulton County
- Laurens County Magistrate Court
- Municipal Court of Stonecrest
- Magistrate Court Probate Court
- Stockbridge Municipal Court
- Third Judicial Circuit Court, Madison County, IL
- Winnebago County, 17th Judicial Circuit Court, IL
Indiana:
- Adams Superior Court
- Elkhart Superior Court 4
- Jefferson Circuit Court
- Madison County Circuit Court 2
- Johnson Superior Court 4
- District Court(s) of Montgomery and Chautauqua Counties, KS
- District Court of Hamilton County, KS
- Seventh Judicial District Court, LA
- Montgomery County Circuit Court, MD
Michigan:
- Oakland County Circuit Court
- Montmorency County Probate Court/District Court/Family Court
- 6th Judicial Circuit Court, Oakland County
- 12th District Court
- 26th Judicial Circuit Court
- 33rd District Court
- 41B District Court
- 47th District Court
- 48th District Court
- 50th Judicial District Court
- 62A District Court
- Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County District Court), MN
- Pueblo de San Ildefonso Tribal Court, NM
- Esmeralda Township Justice Court, NV
- Licking County Probate-Juvenile, OH
- Ashland County Common Pleas Court, OH
- Lake County Probate Court, OH
- Clatsop County Circuit Court, OR
- Multnomah County Circuit Court, OR
- Chester County Court of Common Pleas, PA
- Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, PA
Texas:
- Dallas County Child Protection and Permanency Court
- San Antonio Municipal Court
- 425th District Court
- Title IVD, Court 41
- El Paso County
- 229th District Court
- Denton Municipal Court
- Travis County Civil and Family Courts
Washington:
- Clark County Superior Court
- Des Moines Municipal Court
- Nisqually Tribal Court
- Puyallup Municipal Court
- Puerto Rico Courts of General Jurisdiction, Puerto Rico