electronic Filing & Service for Courts

Maryland Moves Forward with eFiling

Court will launch online case filing
Statewide model seen in project to start in spring

Some interesting quotes: "Advocates say e-filing is more efficient, because getting papers to the courthouse can be done from computers anywhere, and litigants and their lawyers can instantly access documents online - though some less-than-tech-savvy lawyers maintain it is a judicial plot to drive them crazy."

Note: Clients of "less-than-tech-savvy lawyers" should seriously consider finding new counsel.

"Everything will have to be filed that way. If it comes in on paper, we will scan it in. We cannot have two filing systems," Duckworth said. (Robert Duckworth, Clerk Of Court, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court)

Note: Mr. Duckworth understands that you can not have BOTH paper and electronic systems to file the same type of case. The benefits of efiling are minimized if the court needs to maintain 2 systems. Kudo's to Mr. Duckworth...he "get's it"!

Anne Arundel, Maryland....get's it

The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County began its study of electronic filing (efiling) in 2004. At that time, the court began the process of looking at different models for efiling, meeting with a variety of vendors as well as evaluating the court's own readiness for a project of this type. In 2005, in accordance with the Maryland Rules, the Court drafted an Efiling Pilot Proposal which was then submitted to the State Court Administrator and the Maryland Court of Appeals. As the plan was being finalized, the Court was also working to create an effective model of how electronic filing could work in Anne Arundel County and potentially the State of Maryland.

The Court chose LexisNexis Courtlink, Inc. because of its track record of more than 130 courts in production, the minimal overall cost to the Court, its proven project methodology and expertise. LexisNexis Courtlink, Inc. also provides free 24/7 support, and has a demonstrated performance in Baltimore City and is willing to facilitate and implement an information transfer between the electronic filing system and UCS, the backend system provided by JIS that the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County has been using since mid 2003.

In 2005, LexisNexis Courtlink, Inc. conducted an electronic filing analysis for the court. One of the tasks carried out was the definition of current paper based workflow at the court and the design of new workflow that would help bring about the benefits of electronic to operations and for the Court's stakeholders. Another task involved the analysis of case and filing data that was graciously provided by Maryland's Judicial Information Services Dept.

On October 11 2006, Circuit Court Administrative Judge Joseph Manck and Clerk of the Court Robert Duckworth led a delegation which met with the Judges of the Court of Appeals and the State Court Administrator to discuss the proposed efiling pilot project. As a result, the Court of Appeals issued an order (see link below), on October 13, approving the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County's plan. The electronic filing “pilot project” will test how well our court can accomplish the goal of an integrated electronic filing system.

Maryland .... Get's It!

Attached is the Order by the Court of Appeals for Maryland to implement an eFiling pilot for the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County.(population: 510,878)

Key points:
Includes all case types in a phased in approach over 2 years
Participation is mandatory with provision for parties who do not register for service with the contractor
Full compliance with MD rules including data security/privacy
Data integration with the Courts case management system

Based on my experience, the Anne Arundel eFile Pilot, will be successful…because of the Key Points above.

If you have questions, please contact me.
Download md_coa_efile_order_2.pdf