The Associated Press, December 26, 2004
Some attorneys who practice in U.S. District Court in Denver have found something to agree on recently: the court's switch to a paperless filing system next year could be difficult.
The Denver federal courthouse is preparing for the transition to an all-electronic filing system to eliminate the thick case files and the afternoon parade of bicycle messengers carrying documents into the clerk's office.
The electronic system will allow anybody with an Internet connection to view every public page of a case file on a home computer. But it also means lawyers and their staff will have to undergo training and in many cases, upgrade their computer equipment.
"It's daunting, and I think the fact that it's mandatory also is daunting," said Paula Greisen, a Denver lawyer who served on a task force studying the change. "There certainly are some huge advantages to the system. But there very well could be a rough startup period."
Court Clerk Gregory Langham said court staff is trying to make the transition as smooth as possible by switching the civil division before the criminal division, and offering many opportunities for training.
"For the most part, it's being accepted very well," Langham said.
Federal district courts around the country began making the same change after a test system in Ohio proved successful in 1996.
Eventually, all federal bankruptcy, district and appellate courts will be paperless.
Two types of accounts will be available on the system: one for those who need to file documents and another for those who simply want to read and research filed documents.
The clerk's office is making accommodations to scan into the system the handwritten lawsuits and motions which typically come from prison inmates.
"It's a great step forward," said Thomas Seawell, a Denver lawyer who practices in federal court. "There will be a lot of people who will be unhappy and upset, but give them a year and they'll love it."
