The articles do not attempt to predict the future, but do intend to stimulate thought and discussion concerning issues that State courts will likely grapple with in the near future. The 2004 report also contains an environmental scan, which identifies events, trends, or developments that may shape the future functioning of the State court system. The environmental scan identified 10 key challenges facing the court system, including the challenge of meeting the needs of an always changing public, the continued movements toward alternative courts, and the increased use of private courts and prisons. Following the environmental scan, 15 articles discuss future trends in State courts; several themes emerge from the 2004 collection of articles. Themes include the growth of a problem-solving approach to adjudication, changes in the definition of families, improved public access to and trust in the courts, technological improvements, and the future of court facilities. One retrospective article is offered that analyzes questions about pro se litigation that have come to the attention of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) during the past decade. Five articles present updates of issues discussed in recent editions of Trends Report. One of these articles offers a case study of Miami’s Infant and Young Children’s Mental Health Program, while another article analyzes changes in the juvenile death penalty. The use of biometrics to improve court security is discussed and an update is presented to an article from the 2002 report on the budgetary concerns of State courts. A final article explores the possibilities of the Internet to improve court functioning and services. Figures, endnotes, sources