The Pew Charitable Trusts
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered courthouses nationwide and moved a range of court proceedings online, many jurisdictions were using online dispute resolution (ODR) to enable parties to resolve civil cases without setting foot in a courtroom
. Going forward, efforts at standardization will be key to the success of these technologies, helping to ensure that courts and litigants have clear processes to follow and that those processes support an efficient, equitable experience for all users. To that end, the Texas Judicial Council in September adopted a framework for implementing ODR tools and required compliance by county and local courts.