Judiciary IT Bond Bill

The state court system is actively investing in technology improvements to enable a much-needed transformation to digital, online court services. A Judiciary IT Bond Bill authorized investment of $165.5 million over ten years. First filed in FY2020 and delayed by the pandemic until August 2022, this is the first technology bond bill for the courts passed by the legislature and governor since 1997.

This investment will greatly improve the experience of court staff, court users, and connected agencies. It includes major funding for systems, security, and infrastructure to match the changing expectations of the public and staff. Courts will improve business processes and significantly improve operational effectiveness and shift to a more paperless system.

In June 2021, the Trial Court jumpstarted technology investment in priority areas with $8 million in technology funding advanced by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. Initial funding enabled detailed planning, expanded bandwidth across the court system, and improved digital security.

Passage of the Bond Bill authorizes the Trial Court to build on those initial investments and other technology initiatives kickstarted during the pandemic, such as virtual registries and hearings, and focuses on advancing the delivery of court services.

The Trial Court Judicial Information Services Department is leading this multiyear transformation through a coordinated, strategic approach to the many technology projects needed.

Regular updates will reflect progress in the three broad areas highlighted in the bill. The Trial Court will annually submit a progress report and request an allocation of bond funds to enable continued investment. 

• Digital Courthouse & Courtroom (Projects include Wi-Fi and Next Generation Networking, Digital Signage, MassCourts & Digital Optimization)
• Modern & Secure Judiciary (Projects include Physical Security, Digital Security)
• Operations Excellence (Projects include Voice over IP Phone System, Desktop Modernization)

Digital Courthouse & Courtroom

The court will make expansive investments in faster, more accessible, secure and integrated systems for court users. Advancements to date such as eFiling, ePayment, and electronic document storage have been limited in their scale and scope; however, funds from the Bond Bill will help nearly all court functions shift to efficient, paperless processes along with the supports necessary, including digital security.

Current digital transformation projects underway include:  

• Wi-Fi and Next Generation Networking 

• Digital Signage  

• MassCourts & Digital Optimization 

Wi-Fi and Next Generation Networking 

Wi-Fi installation in courthouses is an essential component of the court’s digital transformation. The Trial Court’s IT department has begun installing Wi-Fi capability at courthouses across the state, together with next generation networking technology to increase performance and network capacity.  This will address the challenges posed by network congestion and interruptions that can significantly impact courtroom proceedings.

Wi-Fi connectivity enables the mobility of judges, court staff, and visitors with seamless connectivity and productivity. Wi-Fi also enables court visitors to retrieve electronic files, conduct legal research, and obtain case-related information conveniently.

Next Generation Networking technology will increase network capacity and alleviate the strain caused by activities such as video conferencing and other digital services. It will simplify the expansion of network capacity as the courts evolve into a more digital environment and will create redundancies, a failsafe mechanism in the event of vendor service interruptions, so that every courthouse will have two distinct connections to the internet.

As of March 2024, 29 courthouses have been equipped with Wi-Fi, providing access to important information and resources to over 11,000 visitors that month alone. The goal is to have all courthouses Wi-Fi enabled by the end of 2024. Visit your local courthouse page on mass.gov and look for the Wi-Fi icon to see if your courthouse has Wi-Fi enabled. 

Digital Signage

Today, courtrooms and court schedules are difficult to locate, especially in our large, multilevel court facilities. Digital signage will help court users easily find what they need: a map of the court, daily cases on the docket, and directions to different courts offices and departments. Digital signage also allows court user and litigant information to be displayed in multiple languages.

A digital signage pilot will begin at Chelsea District Court in spring 2024, and the project will be rolled out to all courthouses by mid-2029.

MassCourts & Digital Optimization 

The case management system, MassCourts, is undergoing an optimization assessment by system engineers to improve performance, reliability, and capability. This analysis will help guide strategic decisions on the operational and technology needs required for an enhanced digital case flow process.

MassCourts was first implemented over 15 years ago. Minimal updates and assessments on use of the system since then have resulted in inconsistent use, issues with data quality, workarounds, lower efficiency, and user issues creating negative feedback and frustration.

The optimization project will be conducted by our vendor Equivant and aims to improve these issues in three phases.  

In October 2023, the Trial Court made cosmetic changes to the MassCourts.org public portal and Intranet Portal (courthouse kiosks) that improve the appearance and usability of the site for court users, making it easier to search cases and pay fees.

Modern & Secure Judiciary

Court users, including the public, judges, probation, and staff, expect up-to-date security systems. Funding authorized by the Bond Bill will update systems, add cameras, centralize monitoring, and improve duress systems and in-building communication. These improvements will allow Security staff to monitor day-to-day court activity and improve threat handling abilities and reaction time.

As the Judiciary shifts to a digital environment, the safeguarding of sensitive court information is also a critical concern. The Trial Court is establishing an information security program, including digital security protocols, to minimize the risk posed by malicious cybersecurity threats to the Judiciary.

Current security projects include:

Physical Security: Electronic Security System 

The Trial Court has begun to modernize the core electronic security systems across all court locations to ensure the safety of court users, including the public, judges, probation, and staff.

Over the next five years the project will upgrade systems, add cameras, centralize monitoring, and improve duress systems and in-building communication to help staff more efficiently monitor court activity and improve threat handling capability. In FY24, 13 courthouses are scheduled for security system modernization.

Enhanced Digital Security 

As the Judiciary moves to a digital court environment, safeguarding sensitive court information is an increasing priority. The court uses tools from an industry-leading security vendor to provide education, training, and phishing simulation to prepare judges and staff to defend against cyberthreats. The first mandatory cybersecurity training for all judges and employees took place in FY23 and is a yearly requirement.

Operations Excellence

While much attention has been given to innovation in the courtroom, improved administrative functions will help the courts run more efficiently. The Trial Court is working to increase bandwidth across the court system, implement voice over IP (VoIP) phone systems, modernize data centers, and energy management systems.

Current operations projects include: 

Voice over IP (VoIP) Phone System

The Trial Court is migrating all phone systems to VoIP to improve efficiency and ease of use. The project is 80% complete with 20 final courthouses scheduled to transition by the end of FY25.  

Desktop Modernization 

The Trial Court is undergoing a comprehensive desktop modernization project to improve the technology infrastructure and ensure that judges and staff have the technology to meet their job responsibilities efficiently and effectively. This includes replacing outdated equipment, including laptops, desktops, docking stations, dual monitors, cameras, and headsets. As of October 2023, 85 courthouses have been upgraded with over 7,000 pieces of equipment distributed. Remaining locations will be completed by December 2023.

Last updated:	April 25, 2024