Got a jury duty notice? Mass. courts say they'll soon have Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi will be available in all 94 courthouses across Massachusetts this summer, but it's coming with a cost to the Trial Court system.

Court leaders asked lawmakers this week to add $13 million to the budget Gov. Maura Healey filed this winter (H 2), explaining the need as the result of union-negotiated pay increases, lease and utility cost increases, and the cost of becoming a digital court system. The governor's budget proposed $999.8 million for the Trial Court, but Court Administrator Thomas Ambrosino said the system needs about $1.012 billion, which would be an increase of about $42 million over the Trial Court's appropriation, just to maintain its current operations.

"So the obvious question many ask is, if it's just the status quo, why do you need $42 million? And that really comes down to three new unavoidable, but quite large costs that the Trial Court is going to be incurring in fiscal 27," he said.

A scheduled cost of living adjustment for mostly union employees and the annualization of the last increase is projected to cost the Trial Court — which Ambrosino said has the largest union payroll of any state entity — $25.5 million in fiscal 2027. Increased lease costs and utility expenses are expected to be up $11.1 million next year, and Ambrosino is estimating $5.3 million in costs associated with work "to become a digital court," like new case management systems and network upgrades.

Trial Court Chief Justice Heidi Brieger said Tuesday there will be Wi-Fi "in every single of our 94 courthouses in the commonwealth" by the end of June, "to every juror's joy."

"Last October alone, 44,250 members of the public accessed our Wi-Fi, demonstrating how essential this infrastructure is and has become," she said.

The greater accessibility of Wi-Fi is a boon to jurors, who can now more easily use their smartphones, laptops and tablets while performing their civic duties, but Ambrosino said it also means higher internet costs for the courts.

"Our internet costs next year are going to be up $1.3 million alone," he said.