Videoconferencing practically became a necessity for U.S. courts during the pandemic. But the court systems’ digital renaissance may end there, as judges and court officials noted that budgetary and resource constraints are hindering further adoption of digital tools. And without additional tech and streamlined in-person protocols, some worry that courts won’t be able to efficiently resolve case backlogs and address health risks.

To be sure, videoconferencing platforms became fairly common in some U.S. courts during the pandemic, even with court budget cuts. While most agree such software was crucial for providing court services during the pandemic, securing funding for that tech was difficult for some court systems.