[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6373453,"mediaKeyId","2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5","parentId",2145896,"title","Judiciary outlines Access Resource Center, mental‑health and AI work aimed at helping self‑represented litigants","audioSeconds",234,"startMs",536910,"endMs",771000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5&start=536&end=771","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5/thumbnail_536910.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373453/Vermont/Judiciary-outlines-Access-Resource-Center-mentalhealth-and-AI-work-aimed-at-helping-selfrepresented-litigants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373453-e14a7561357c4adc1ef120cc6dbddcb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776588839&Signature=MGkvOJvvcyvbWR5qna65xZEnGJNy5S12svCBEeZphPBl9E08ATqAyDOSPalu93gWzVao1MW7rWmatPZkGRblJNyhKZfZbjKHd~BiTVBqDnJW~LPC88W4W1xGq-GT9fGeJWbYhal3IHcTYpH4I5pVMn2MdCPy7NOd~qCQDXtqhN9XZzH~njZ3W0nfxxGYAzyCwLt~olomrikDUlXexITJhHIJyWkdaIUNWtbllMiQ0JP9X7qiSQkSmrvfUCvBAc~uL0cmEhiLdX9RYTWM7bMNaRgJpjatQ6UakBRElsTgD4Qzd54ZPpfgUV08zq8DzPd2eNGqxcgFQSKCH7jTvtKhkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-23T15:47:04Z","article","A Judiciary presentation to the House Judiciary Committee highlighted three programs the Judiciary said aim to improve access to justice: a statewide Access Resource Center for self‑represented litigants, a tri-branch Vermont Judiciary Commission on Mental Health in the courts, and a recently created Judiciary committee studying uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in court operations.

The Judiciary representative said the Access Resource Center began as a walk-in clinic at the Chittenden County courthouse but was repurposed during the pandemic to operate statewide by phone, e‑mail and video. \"They are designed to help self‑represented litigants navigate the system — forms, questions, whatever — and they can be transferred to the access resource people to get more help,\" the Judiciary representative said.

Nut graf: Officials described the center as a practical, staffed resource for people who arrive at courthouses needing more time or expertise than on-site staff can provide; the center supplements in-courthouse help by offering remote support to multiple locations.

Mental-health commission and workshops

Officials said the Vermont Judiciary Commission on Mental Health in the courts is a tri-branch effort (legislative, judicial and executive participants) that has worked on competency-evaluation reforms and now plans regional sequential-intercept model workshops to map diversion and treatment resources; workshops were scheduled for 2025 in Southeast, Southwest and Chittenden regions, presenters said.

AI committee

The Judiciary representative also described a new Judiciary Committee on Artificial Intelligence, formed to evaluate how AI tools could help with processing and with resources for self-represented litigants, such as chatbots linked to court websites. The committee will assess legal, evidentiary and ethical risks and coordinate with court operations workgroups.

Why it matters: The programs seek to reduce barriers for people without lawyers, divert people with mental‑health needs to appropriate services where possible, and explore low‑risk automation to help litigants complete forms and find information.

Next steps: The Judiciary representative said deeper hearings will be scheduled for the mental‑health and AI items in the coming months and that the committee will report further work to the legislature.

Ending: Committee leaders thanked presenters and indicated they will return for more detailed briefings on sequential‑intercept implementation and AI guardrails.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House and Senate Judiciary - 2025-01-23 - 10:40 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Judiciary described an Access Resource Center that provides statewide help to self-represented litigants, a tri-branch mental‑health commission and a new committee studying court uses of artificial intelligence.","taxTitle","Judiciary, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35152,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6373454,"State data show modest drops in pending cases but rising caseloads and workforce shortages threaten progress",3771,917890,4689000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5&start=917&end=4689","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5/thumbnail_917890.jpg","/articles/6373454/Vermont/State-data-show-modest-drops-in-pending-cases-but-rising-caseloads-and-workforce-shortages-threaten-progress","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373454-9c9cd5d9091b695860108bf681f14a76/orig.mp4?Expires=1776588839&Signature=bzMGWWIJ1drqohdNavTU8aPpRYxMH67zpjRD8dOHuVErH3Mm2LvzJAzUtVMlqA7GiXPVye1mq2IGI~-lNOfedii~0tlhAsivgkAfX7qAfx5TPwhvd9m9YXSdHsZeaGvqIoJoHZNUSTt5RU8DAUTYfyHKjbHczgp-Ed4anP2vpzS5iez0UmULGUKuzzUCztKeZFU4K0atXnhPxy5Si0N8Pte5O1-0Td68XHjw9TE2-bkUq71IX7g~FJIASQKKL8a-fZGRQVLC3aZV0lEsMfkYh1fctee01yu6Z21dkkYcCG-ptzoYdMT8MoeGVp-S2kmucf3Xd3H5g7q5BJ-C8eUD0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Presenters from the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs and the public defense office told the House Judiciary Committee that statewide pending caseloads moved lower in one yearlong snapshot, but increases in new filings and severe workforce shortages in both public defense and prosecution create continuing risk to timely dispositions.

In a statewide data pull dated Dec. 10, 2023, presenters said there were 26,119 pending cases (all case statuses). A follow-up statewide pull on Dec. 10, 2024 showed 23,134 pending cases, indicating net movement downward in the point-in-time total across all case types, the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs’ data representative said.

Nut graf: Lawmakers were shown several measures — clearance rates, active-time-to-disposition and added caseload — to explain why single-digit improvements in backlog numbers do not guarantee sustainable timely justice. Presenters emphasized uneven county results, sharp increases in probation-violation filings and termination-of-parental-rights cases, and difficulty recruiting and retaining lawyers in several counties.

Key facts and data presented

- Two point-in-time statewide snapshots: 26,119 pending cases on Dec. 10, 2023, and 23,134 pending cases on Dec. 10, 2024 (datasets used by Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs). The dataset for Dec. 2024 included extreme risk protection orders, which the 2023 snapshot did not, the presenter said.

- Clearance rates and the judiciary’s dispositional guidelines: presenters said clearance rate can vary month to month (a court may show 150% clearance in a month and still have a rising workload because filings that month also rose), and that Administrative Order 5 and Administrative Directive 24 provide courtroom priorities and discretionary timing guidance.

- Percentage changes (two-point comparison, Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024): presenters reported a single-digit statewide decrease in felony pending counts (just under 6%) and an approximately 8.75% decrease in misdemeanors; but added caseload in the 2023–24 fiscal year rose overall by roughly 7% in incoming cases (examples below).

- Added caseload by type (fiscal year comparison presented): felonies rose ~1.4% in cases and 1.2% in charges; misdemeanors rose ~3.4% in cases and ~4.6% in charges; “other” cases (primarily probation violations) rose nearly 60% in cases and ~47% in charges, producing a net increase in incoming workload.

- Juvenile/family docket note: presenters flagged a roughly 40% increase in termination-of-parental-rights (TPR) filings in fiscal year 2024 compared with fiscal year 2023; presenters said TPRs demand large amounts of courtroom time and experienced counsel, which competes with criminal-court scheduling.

Workforce and capacity constraints

The Defender General (speaker identified in the hearing transcript as the defender general; name not provided in the transcript) told the committee that filling public-defense staffing slots has become difficult: advertised, fully benefited staff positions in several counties have remained open for months with few or no applicants. The defender general said the demographic pipeline of new lawyers is shrinking and that rural counties are particularly hard to staff.

The Defender General said some offices have relied on moving existing staff or contractors between counties as a temporary measure, but several contract offices have signaled they will not renew, and in at least one county a longstanding contract office may have to convert to a staff office if contractors do not step forward.

Presenters gave a high-level picture of individual dockets: the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs’ data presenter said a relatively small number of people produce many dockets — for example, that 150 people with 10 or more open dockets represented a larger total of open dockets (figures presented in the hearing slides and described by presenters).

Why this matters: Even with some point-in-time reductions in pending cases, rising incoming caseloads and long-term vacancy problems mean the system risks renewed growth in backlog unless hiring, contracting and case-management capacity expand.

Requests and next steps: presenters and legislators discussed additional data work (month-by-month clearance and active-time-to-disposition metrics) and agreed to follow-up hearings. Lawmakers signaled interest in exploring options including targeted hiring incentives or stipends, pilot programs for pretrial supervision, and more granular data reporting by county and case type.

Ending: Committee leaders said staff would bring the presenters back for more detailed county-level and month-by-month analysis to inform any resource requests.","Presenters told the House Judiciary Committee that statewide pending cases fell between December 2023 and December 2024, but growing added caseloads (notably probation violations) and persistent hiring problems for public defenders and prosecutors risk reversing gains.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6373455,"Judiciary says remote hearings and new tech ease scheduling but corrections staffing and transport remain constraints",426,56450,483440,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5&start=56&end=483","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145896-e078ec7e605a3c9781e9bf87f217c1f5/thumbnail_56450.jpg","/articles/6373455/Vermont/Judiciary-says-remote-hearings-and-new-tech-ease-scheduling-but-corrections-staffing-and-transport-remain-constraints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373455-fa848d5587e6b5eeb35d5e3a733883d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776588839&Signature=JmX4T-B4BGY1fPNFzLtGyfaEXcRMUlZ2oVZ2MtBkp7O~kBVzBht-LI4FPSCbZDQncSyVgL1zquOTNX4MoPqu0Du4Djb9rpdKKhyFqDEyzwBKecXZF4V07Cq0mY4DSDb8SSW-ytsmahAsQeVEo0A36aRaQ0BcQJ1Gy498nOqSLe0C4-tKjHBvHQTEMs1ZcDZvSsDEuu8T6XFN2Zr4RlF3FOwcUWYU8Dr9OofzyYDuDyTX-UxZRgD~uDDH6VsHY3orymCOH~0IIuE~7I7tt0cL5MgC464ZNzs0qubAMgxx7StxMnYmZn5EehCaXeLgLq8PUYv33jDgS6nnPBroIeVzWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vermont Judiciary officials told the House Judiciary Committee that remote hearings and recent technology upgrades have eased scheduling pressures and can reduce juror delay, but corrections staffing and limits on sheriff transports mean remote options cannot replace in-person trials or solve transport shortfalls.

The Judiciary representative told lawmakers the court system has “dedicated Internet circuits,” larger monitors and modular equipment that make remote hearings more reliable than earlier pandemic-era setups. “There is a place for remote hearings and they are critical to our ability to move forward,” the Judiciary representative said.

Why it matters: remote hearings can reduce the need to transport detained people to multiple courthouses, let attorneys appear in multiple counties on the same day, and avoid keeping jurors waiting while a single courtroom handles scheduling tasks. But correctional facilities and sheriffs face operational limits that make remote-only processing infeasible in many case types.

Officials described specific corrections-related constraints. The Judiciary representative said the Department of Corrections (DOC) has deployed additional remote-hearing devices in all but two correctional facilities and that DOC staff have used the devices for mental-health screening and other purposes, but that DOC has staffing and wiring limitations that limit full use of smaller “mini” remote devices inside jails. The Judiciary representative said tech staff and buildings-and-grounds personnel are working to resolve wiring and security issues for in-jail devices.

Committee members and witnesses stressed the difference between types of hearings: the Judiciary representative said the courts will not conduct criminal jury trials remotely and that some hearings must remain in-person. At the same time, initial regional arraignments are now done remotely in most courts.

Correctional staffing and transport limits were repeatedly flagged as a bottleneck. The Judiciary representative and other presenters said sheriffs do not have capacity to run frequent, same-day transports from every holding facility, and DOC case managers no longer routinely perform logistical tasks they once did (printing, scanning, and routing signed documents), which complicates remote plea and disposition workflows.

The Judiciary representative suggested one possible fix would be adding one staff position in each jail to serve as a case-management liaison to support remote hearings and document handling, but said filling such positions is a matter for DOC.

Next steps: the Judiciary representative said a joint hearing of House Corrections and House Judiciary on remote hearings and transports will be scheduled soon to dig deeper into transport, DOC staffing and sheriff capacity.

Ending: Committee members signaled interest in follow-up work with DOC, state’s attorneys and public defenders to identify practical, secure ways to expand remote hearings where appropriate while preserving in-person proceedings where needed.","Vermont Judiciary officials told the House Judiciary Committee that expanded remote-hearing capability, dedicated internet circuits and improved equipment have sped case processing, but limits on correctional staffing and sheriff transports constrain full benefit; a joint hearing with House Corrections was announced.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Judiciary outlines Access Resource Center, mental‑health and AI work aimed at helping self‑represented litigants

State data show modest drops in pending cases but rising caseloads and workforce shortages threaten progress

Judiciary says remote hearings and new tech ease scheduling but corrections staffing and transport remain constraints