Digital Practice of Law

Electronic Filing in South Carolina

Courts to launch computer filing. 'A quantum leap to a paperless federal court system in South Carolina is about to lift off. By March, the four U.S. district courts around the state and the legal community are expected to be ready for computer filing and retrieval of criminal and civil documents. That means that bringing a lawsuit or responding to one, announcing a hearing or keeping up with a criminal charge will be available electronically through the courts. For the lay public, however, viewing the information will require a second step. The public will have to use the courts’ current computer system, called Pacer, to link to their computers, said court staffer Lois McLeod. That can be done online for free. . . . .'

Federal Criminal Court Files Available Online

Electronic Access Availableto Criminal Case Files. "Beginning November 1, 2004, all criminal case file documents available to the public at a courthouse also will be available remotely through the court's electronic access system.

Remote electronic access to civil and bankruptcy case files has been available since 2001. Similar access in criminal cases was delayed while a pilot project involving 10 federal district courts and one court of appeals was conducted. A Federal Judicial Center study of the project determined the advantages and disadvantages of such access to criminal cases."

E-Filing in Guam

New Supreme Court e-filing project demonstrated to legal community
(3-17-04).
" [T]he Supreme Court of Guam unveiled its plans for its bold E-Filing initiative, which provides online transmittal capabilities for documents to the court, all from the convenience of a user's desktop. . . one of the big advantages for the system is electronic billing, providing full-time, immediate customer services outward, and internally streamlining his operations. The system is one of several IT solutions catering to the local legal community, including archive search utilities WestLaw and JurisPacific, each of which allows local legal practitioners to access archived legal documents. . . If you'd like a look at the court's new e-filing system, visit GuamSupremeCourt.com."