News Post

By Nathan Wilson, Administrative Director of Courts

“The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government.” — George Washington to Edmund Randolph, Sept. 28, 1789.  

These words from our first president remain as true today as they were at the founding of the nation. In Alabama, the Unified Judicial System (UJS) continues to uphold this principle by investing in the structures that support fair, efficient, and accessible justice. From modernizing technology and strengthening courthouse security to expanding access for all Alabamians and revitalizing judicial education, the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) is working to ensure that the administration of justice remains not only firm today but future-ready. The following highlights offer a closer look at the vision of Chief Justice Sarah Stewart and some of the major initiatives AOC is currently implementing.

Advancing Judicial Education Through the Alabama Judicial College

A cornerstone of an effective judiciary is excellence in judicial education. The Alabama Judicial College, a division of the AOC, plays a central role in advancing the professional development of all judicial officers and court personnel across the state, including judges, clerks, court referees, judicial assistants, court specialists, magistrates, juvenile probation officers, court referral officers, and many more. The adoption of the Alabama Rules for Mandatory Judicial Education for judges has renewed focus on judicial education. Accordingly, the Alabama Judicial College will lead the development of a comprehensive, tiered curriculum designed to address the specific and intensive needs of court officials and other court professionals.

In addition to core legal and procedural training, the curriculum will increasingly emphasize practical skills, leadership development, ethics, court administration, emerging legal issues, and the responsible integration of technology into the courtroom. Courses will be delivered through a mix of in-person sessions, interactive virtual training, and on-demand elements, offering flexibility and accessibility for participants statewide.

The goal is to ensure that judicial education is not a one-time orientation with annual check-ins, but an ongoing process that empowers judges and every member of the court system to perform their duties with professionalism, integrity, and confidence. Through the revitalized mission of the Alabama Judicial College, AOC, in continued partnership with judges, circuit clerks, and other court staff, will instill a culture of continuous learning in the court system.

Modernizing Technology

For decades, Alabama has been at the forefront of court technology, largely due to the foresight and dedication of visionary leaders within the judicial branch. Early investments in automation, case management, and electronic filing systems positioned Alabama as a national leader in the modernization of court operations. These advances were made possible by the pioneering work of information technology professionals at AOC, as well as the collaboration and commitment of legal staff, judges, and clerks across the state. Many of these employees and officials continue to serve the judiciary and state with distinction today.  Their collective efforts laid the groundwork for a more efficient and accessible court system, and their contributions continue to guide Alabama’s ongoing transition into the next generation of judicial technology.

The UJS is currently undertaking a major modernization effort by transitioning from its longstanding State Judicial Information System (SJIS), a mainframe-based platform, to a new, web-based system known as the Unified Judicial Administration System (UJIS). For decades, SJIS has functioned as the central repository for case information across Alabama’s trial courts. The Alacourt system—including both the subscription interface, v2.alacourt.com, and the current document management platform, AlacourtPlus, used by trial court judges and clerks—is built around and integrated with SJIS.  SJIS has served this state well.  As a legacy mainframe system, however, SJIS is limited in flexibility, relies on outdated user interfaces, and presents ongoing challenges in terms of data access, system integration, and sustainability.

The transition to UJIS represents a forward-looking investment in the state’s judicial infrastructure. As a secure, browser-based platform, UJIS provides an integrated system for the courts, whereas the courts currently work in multiple systems.  UJIS will provide far greater accessibility to judges, clerks, court staff, and justice system partners throughout Alabama. Its web-based architecture enables more effective integration with other state and local systems, thereby enhancing coordination across agencies. In contrast to the cumbersome and often unintuitive interface of the mainframe system, UJIS will offer a more modern and user-friendly experience that streamlines court functionality. It also significantly improves the state’s capacity for data reporting and analytics of court statistics, supporting more effective case management and better resource allocation. Although the initial transition requires an investment of time and resources, the long-term benefits are substantial, particularly in terms of efficiency, usability, and cost-effectiveness.

Ultimately, the move to UJIS underscores the judiciary’s commitment to modernization, transparency, and improved service to the public. AOC is currently working on the development of UJIS with its vendor, I3Verticals, and plans to begin testing the new system in the summer of 2026.

Improving Access to Justice

In this age of technology, access to justice must be meaningful and achievable.

AOC will start by undertaking a comprehensive review and update of its statewide court forms to ensure greater clarity, ease of use, accessibility, and consistency across all levels of court. Many of the existing forms were developed years ago and have become outdated due to changes in law, procedure, technology, and user needs. This effort includes revising language for plain understanding, incorporating digital-friendly formats with fillable fields, and improving usability for self-represented litigants, attorneys, clerks, and judges. A committee has been appointed that will assist with the review of existing forms and that will identify any other forms that need creation.

Additionally, AOC is actively restructuring the Language Access Program to better serve the needs of hearing-impaired and limited-English-proficient individuals. This includes developing a centralized, organized registry of certified and qualified foreign language interpreters and providing tools and guidance to judges, court personnel, and attorneys. While the existing program has long needed attention, this renewed effort reflects our commitment to ensuring meaningful participation in court proceedings for all individuals, regardless of their language proficiency. As part of this commitment, AOC will hire a dedicated program coordinator to oversee and advance these efforts.

Communicating with the Public

Effective communication is essential to building and maintaining public confidence in the judiciary. To achieve this goal, the AOC is taking significant steps to modernize how we share information, data, and resources with the people of Alabama. A central component of this effort is the ongoing revamp of the AOC website, which is being redesigned to be more user-friendly, informative, and accessible to a broad audience, including judges, attorneys, court staff, policymakers, and members of the public.

In addition to improved navigation, updated content, and a more intuitive design, the updated website will provide expanded access to timely court statistics and operational data. These public-facing reports will enable users to better understand the volume and types of cases handled by Alabama’s courts, observe statewide trends, and evaluate system performance. By increasing transparency and promoting data-informed insights into court activity, the judiciary aims to foster greater public trust, accountability, and engagement.

Improving Security

The safety and security of Alabama’s courts, both physical and digital, remain a top priority. Recognizing that a secure environment is essential to the fair and uninterrupted administration of justice, the AOC is actively implementing measures to protect judges, clerks, attorneys, litigants, and the public who work in or interact with the court system. This effort includes the hiring of a dedicated security professional at AOC to serve as a resource for local courts, providing on-site assessments, guidance on best practices, and expert advice on enhancing courthouse safety. Chief Justice Stewart also plans to work with the Alabama Legislature to fund court resource officers, who, if the funding materializes, will serve as security personnel for the trial courts.

At the same time, as courts become increasingly reliant on technology, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical component of judicial security. AOC is taking efforts to safeguard sensitive judicial data, protect user accounts, and preserve the integrity of court operations in the face of evolving cyber threats.

By taking a proactive and layered approach to both physical and digital security, Alabama’s courts are working to ensure that all participants, whether entering a courthouse or logging in remotely, can do so in a safe and trusted environment.

Summation

The initiatives outlined above represent just a few of the significant efforts the AOC has undertaken since January 2025. In a companion article in this edition of The Alabama Lawyer, Chief Justice Sarah Stewart affirms that AOC’s mission under her leadership is to ensure that Alabama’s courts deliver justice with integrity, efficiency, and respect. These core values are not only central to our work but also the foundation of public trust in the judicial system. These initiatives, along with others AOC has already undertaken and will undertake in the future, reflect our unwavering commitment to upholding those principles in every corner of the Unified Judicial System.