Trends in State Courts is an annual, peer-reviewed publication that highlights innovative practices in critical areas that are of interest to courts, and often serves as a guide for developing new initiatives and programs and informing and supporting policy decisions. Trends in State Courts is the only publication of its kind and enjoys a wide circulation among the state court community.
The 2024 edition of Trends in State Courts highlights innovative practices in artificial intelligence (AI), data collection, and action planning. These activities and others showcase how courts provide both leadership in, and connections to, the communities they serve.
Trends 2024 articles
Artificial Intelligence: The Need for State Court Leadership
Laks Kattalai and Jessica Lewis Kelly
Data Governance and AI in State Courts
Diane Robinson, Shay Cleary, Sarah Gibson, Andrea L. Miller
Court Navigation Programs: Providing Connections and Support Across the Legal and Behavioral Health Systems
Brandon Morrissey, Samantha A. Zottola, Isolynn A. Massey, Elan C. Hope and Sarah L. Desmarais
Litigant Empowerment Through Choice: Insights from an Ongoing Study of Remote versus In-Person Family Court Hearings
Emily LaGratta, Renee Danser and D. James Greiner
Customer-Centered Juvenile Justice
Logan Seacrest
Multidisciplinary Representation for Parents in Dependency Cases
Teri Deal and Alicia Summers
Transforming Justice: Navigating Data Challenges in Domestic Violence Courts
Alicia Davis, Diane Robinson, Rachel Buck and Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee
Action Planning to Advance Systemic Change
Glenn A. Grant and Jessica Lewis Kelly
From Classroom to Courtroom: Engaging Today’s Students to Become Tomorrow’s Court Professionals
Giuseppe M. Fazari
PHASE - A Practical Approach to Implementation
Teri Deal, Conor Geiger, Wendy Schiller and Mariarenee Contreras
Submissions and Guidelines
Submissions for the 2026 edition are now being accepted. Please email abstracts of no more than 500 words by October 5, 2025.
Abstracts received after this date are welcome and will be considered for later editions.
