Many of these cases—including those involving debt collection, eviction, traffic, and child guardianship—can have profound, life-changing implications, and communities of color are disproportionately affected by the outcomes.
But in today’s state and local legal systems, many cases that would benefit from a judge’s consideration never reach the bench while matters that could be effectively resolved outside of the courtroom are clogging dockets. By contrast, effective, modern systems would enable judicial and court staff to focus on the cases that require their expertise and attention, allowing them to better serve communities.
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ courts and communities project works to build open, effective, and equitable state and local legal systems that enable all people to meaningfully participate in court processes, expeditiously resolve cases, and avoid unnecessary interactions with the court in favor of proven alternative interventions. The project supports efforts to deliver on this vision by producing data-driven research to expand knowledge on how courts affect individuals and communities and by building partnerships with communities, the private sector, policymakers, and other stakeholders to identify and advance comprehensive improvements.
State courts in the United States handle approximately 66 million cases each year spanning a diverse array of legal matters, from family disputes to traffic tickets. In 2024, The Pew Charitable Trusts published an issue brief exploring the number and types of cases heard in state courts and the effect that those matters have on courts and communities.
Millions of Americans are struggling with debt, from credit card bills to unexpected medical expenses. And many face a tough choice between paying off debt or covering basic needs such as rent, food, and health care. But what happens when these debts go unpaid?
Nationwide, about 3.7 million U.S. children—1 in 20—live in a household without a parent as their primary caregiver. Many are cared for by grandparents or another family member or friend, and these nonparents routinely provide children with safe, stable environments when their parents are unable or unwilling to do so.
Courts process more than 15 million criminal cases and 30 million traffic cases a year. At that volume, if even just a small percentage of people miss a court appearance, the number of missed hearings will quickly add up. Missed hearings create additional work for court staff, add to the backlog of cases awaiting resolutions, and create inefficiencies for courthouse operations. They also come with serious consequences for communities: A missed hearing can result in a bench warrant, driver’s license suspension, fines, and even jail time.
The business of state civil courts has changed over the past three decades. In 1990, a typical civil court docket featured cases with two opposing sides, each with an attorney, most frequently regarding commercial matters and disputes over contracts, injuries, and other harms.
