Electronic filing system to make court records more accessible
“It will provide instant access and simultaneous access to filings and court records 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone with Internet access,” said John Medearis, deputy clerk for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which includes federal court houses in Chattanooga, Greeneville and Knoxville.
Beginning May 17, the documents will be available on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records program, known as PACER.
A copy fee of 7 cents a page will be charged, but the maximum cost for any one document is $2.10.
The change is part of the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts’ plan to make the program available in federal courts nationwide by 2005.
Currently, 42 of 94 district courts and 72 of 90 federal bankruptcy courts are using the new system, said Dick Carelli, spokesman for the office. Many of Tennessee’s federal court records already are accessible through PACER.
“This is the largest implementation program undertaken by the federal court system,” Carelli said.
The Eastern District of Tennessee received a $40,000 grant to upgrade computer equipment for the changeover, said court clerk Patricia L. McNutt.
Officials expect the electronic filing system to save time and money in printing and mailing costs. Currently, lawyers who want to file a document with the court have to bring a paper copy to the clerk’s office and make additional copies for everyone involved in the case.
With only one copy of the file, anyone wanting to see the document has to go to the courthouse and request it from the clerk. Sometimes, the judge has the file in his chambers and no one can see it until it’s returned.
The updated system will allow an unlimited number of people to view records at the same time.
“It will help us keep records more accurately,” said Chief U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar. “It will put everything online so we will not be running around the office looking for a file that is lost.”
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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com