Federal Courts' Filing System Needs a Revamp, ABA Says
The federal judiciary should update its Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system, which lawyers use to file court papers and the public uses to access those documents through the PACER electronic public access service, the ABA’s policymaking House of Delegates said Monday.
The report for Resolution 10A noted that “some 33 million case files currently are on CM/ECF system, and more than 400,000 attorneys and others have filed documents using the system.”
Among the features users have already asked be added to the system:
• Better integration with other systems.
• Custom notifications, reports and views.
• Automated data exchanges.
• Improved speed and user interface.
• Expanded search capabilities.
• Single sign-on for multiple districts.
• Clearer, more organized dockets.
The measure passed the House on an overwhelming voice vote. No one spoke in opposition.
