electronic Filing & Service for Courts

Series: The Whole World Uses Technolo

but they keep talking about it....this from Iowa:

Chief Justice: E-filing raises security issues

"...the Iowa court system is slated to conduct two test projects for electronic filing later this year with plans to convert to a statewide e-filing system in five years...Currently, considerable information of a personal nature - such as birth dates, addresses, children's names, and financial account information - is part of the public record but not easily accessible without going to a courthouse and digging through records, she noted. That will change with instantaneous electronic access "24/7" from remote locations anywhere in the world via online court records."

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The fact is that anyone can go to a courthouse today and dig through the files and come up with all the information that Iowa and other states are concerned about. In an electronic system it is actually easier to redact that information than it is in the paper based world.

The suggestion of legislation intended to keep private info on public records, private, by the Chief Justice of Iowa, while thoughtful, is met by an equally thoughtful concern from " Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said lawmakers would be willing to consider the concerns raised by the chief justice, but added he had some "trepidation" about what information might be kept secret that currently is available to the public."

Maylasian Courts move toward electronic filing

January 11, 2007 20:40 PM
11 Courts Implementing E-Justice Programme

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- A total of 11 courts have computerised their administration system under the e-justice system to further improve their efficiency.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the pioneer e-justice project was started in September 2004, and the system will be implemented in stages in all the 410 courts throughout the country.

"We have seen its effectiveness, and we will implement it at all the courts in the country," he told reporters after the handing over ceremony of the e-justice system to Malaysian judiciary, here Thursday.

He said e-justice could help in the automation of the justice administration system through the application of the case management system at 11 trial rooms, and in the court recording and transcription system in two trial rooms.

The implementation of e-justice comes in four stages, namely development of basic justice technology; content management system; electronic case filing and trial management system; and file tracing.

He said e-justice was developed by Solsis (M) Sdn Bhd at a cost of RM27 million, and it could improve the public delivery system as well as expedite the process of resolving backlogged court cases.

Mohamed Nazri said once it was fully implemented, the system could be accessed by government agencies and parties that dealt with courts like lawyers, police, public prosecutors and the public.

"Malaysia is among the first in the world to opt for an electronic judicial system," he said.

The e-justice project is implemented under the Court Computerisation Master Plan that was formulated in 2003.

Series: The Whole World Uses Technology More than the Judiciary...

but they keep talking about it....the latest from Oklahoma:

"...improvements Chief Justice James Winchester wants to make in Oklahoma's courts are tied to one major need: upgrading the judicial computer system. Winchester said everything from ensuring that court record systems in metropolitan areas and rural counties can work together electronically, to expanding the use of electronic document filing, enhancing public access to court records and monitoring court performance hinges on that goal."

and "Winchester has asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court's information-management and administrative staff to develop a strategic plan outlining "where we need to go next" in making the system more up-to-date electronically.

Part of that discussion will focus on improving access to court records. "It's coming," Winchester said. "It's just going to be a little while. "

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It really does not need to take that long. There are solutions today that would allow for statewide efiling to occur that are inexpensive and will enhance public access to court records and can be integrated into legacy case management systems.

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"!