State Courts

Traffic Court (In)Justice

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Vol. 108 No. 1 (2024) | Harnessing AI for Justice

If you have ever represented yourself in court, it may have been in traffic court. You likely brought (or tried to bring) your lawyerly skills to bear. In the process, […]

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Bringing Home the Bill of Rights

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Vol. 108 No. 1 (2024) | Harnessing AI for Justice

I am honored to be the 30th chief justice of the state of North Carolina and to have served on my state’s highest court since 2004. I’ve also practiced law, […]

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Outside the Box: How States Are Increasing Access to Justice Through Evidence-Based Regulation of the Practice of Law

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Vol. 108 No. 1 (2024) | Harnessing AI for Justice

A new approach to bringing people access to justice “centers the justice experiences of ordinary people, rather than the structure or staffing of justice institutions, the elements of legal families, […]

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States Move to Protect Judges’ Safety

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Vol. 108 No. 1 (2024) | Harnessing AI for Justice

Over the past three years, state legislatures have introduced a large influx of bills addressing the need to protect judges, court staff, and their families. In 2024 alone, more than […]

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North Carolina Supreme Court

The Unclear and Uneasy Role of State Courts in Implementing Federal Policy

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Vol. 107 No. 3 (2024) | Justitia

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) was enacted in 2022. One of the law’s goals is to reduce gun violence by strengthening background checks for potential gun purchasers between the […]

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Common Themes Emerge in 2023 ‘State of the State Judiciary’ Addresses

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Vol. 107 No. 2 (2023) | Generative AI in the Courts

In 48 states, the chief justice of the state supreme court is the “administrative head” of or holds “administrative power” over the state’s judicial branch.1 As such, many chiefs deliver annual “state of the judiciary” addresses, similar to speeches delivered by governors. […]

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“Our Response Must Be Faster and Louder”

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Vol. 107 No. 2 (2023) | Generative AI in the Courts

Those who become judges don the robe expecting to work hard. They accept that the job comes with heavy caseloads, endless filings to read, and difficult decisions that must be made […]

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Renaming Maryland’s Appellate Courts

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Vol. 107 No. 1 (2023) | Toward Fairer, Quicker, Cheaper Litigation

What’s in a name? According to Maryland’s voters, there’s something to it. […]

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Indelible: Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson

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Vol. 107 No. 1 (2023) | Toward Fairer, Quicker, Cheaper Litigation

Shirley Abrahamson’s enduring legacy exists not just in statistics, accolades, and awards. Rather it lies in her innovations in judicial administration, her significant contributions to the development of the law, and the indelible impression she left on the hearts and minds of so many who look to her with admiration and gratitude.

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Faith in Law

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Vol. 107 No. 1 (2023) | Toward Fairer, Quicker, Cheaper Litigation

David F. Levi interviews Dallin H. Oaks, a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and former justice of the Utah Supreme Court, on faith, democracy, and how believers and nonbelievers can work together toward a more free and fair society for all. […]

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