The public continues to place more trust in state courts than in other government institutions, according to a recent public opinion survey by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). At the same time, concerns about equal justice, the use of AI, and judicial security shape public perceptions.
The annual State of the State Courts survey explores public sentiment about the courts to understand the types of administrative reforms and improvements that might enhance public support. The survey polled 1,000 registered voters nationwide in November 2025.
The survey was developed by a subcommittee of the Conferences of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators Public Engagement, Trust and Confidence Committee. Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Marcia Meis served as co-chair of the 2025 subcommittee.
Unequal concepts of justice
In the 2025 survey, 62 percent of respondents said they had a great deal or some confidence in state courts. This percentage has remained stable since 2023, hovering between 61 and 63 percent.
Public confidence in state courts outranked trust in other government institutions, including state legislatures (59%), governors (57%), federal courts (52%), and the U.S. Supreme Court (51%).
Despite steady confidence levels, more respondents than ever said that people do not experience the justice system equally.
This tension reflects what the NCSC referred to as a “two-tiered” system of justice in its report, a concern the NCSC explored further in a 2023 focus group initiative.
Concerns about AI and judicial security
Public trust in the use of AI within state courts remains limited. More than half of respondents (51%) said they believe “AI will hurt state courts by increasing the risk of mistakes that judges and staff can’t always catch and making it harder for people to trust court decisions.”
Only 31 percent believe AI will “help state courts work faster and more efficiently,” while 18 percent said they didn’t know.
The NCSC provides guidance on AI adoption in state courts to support courts as they navigate these concerns.
Judicial security also emerged as a significant concern. Half of the respondents said they believe the threat of politically motivated violence against elected officials, judges, and other public officials has increased over the past 12 months.
More than 75 percent of respondents indicated support for proposed federal legislation aimed at protecting state court judges and court staff.
Efforts to build public trust in Illinois courts
In Illinois, recent initiatives reflect many of the issues raised in the survey.
The Illinois Judicial Conference recently released its 2026–2028 Strategic Agenda for the Illinois Judicial Branch, which outlines “how the Judicial Branch will evolve and adapt to make the courts work better for the people they serve,” according to an Illinois Supreme Court press release.
In that release, Chief Justice P. Scott Neville acknowledged the persistence of “confusing procedures, complicated forms, and technological demands” as barriers for court users.
“The Illinois Supreme Court is continuing its modernization efforts, which includes improving remote-hearing practices, strengthening our digital infrastructure, and expanding support for litigants without lawyers, so the legal system is easier to understand, more accessible, and worthy of the public’s trust,” Neville said.
Separately, the Commission on Professionalism conducts Courthouse Professionalism Trainings, which provide courthouse personnel an opportunity to experience the justice system from the perspective of court users.
As a result of the training, courthouse personnel better understand the connection between professionalism and the delivery of justice and learn to apply strategies to improve court users’ experience.
The Commission has delivered the training at 13 courthouses across Illinois. Please reach out to us at mail@2civility.org if you are interested in bringing the training to your courthouse.
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