Model Rules for Electronic Filing in the Works
The National Center of State Courts (NCSC) and West Group will
collaborate on model rules for the electronic filing of documents in
state courts nationwide.
Steve Daitch, vice president of Technology Business Development at
West Group, says, "The National Center for State Courts is the think
tank for state courts. Its publications and conferences are at the
forefront of state court administrative and technology planning."
James E. McMillan, director of the NCSC's Court Tecnhology
Laboratory, notes that "electronic filing of court documents is an idea
whose time is about to come. What is needed is a collection of model
rules and plans that can easily be customized and adopted by individual
state courts or entire statewide judicial systems."
The model rules for state courts will include a financial analysis of
electronic filing showing the productivity gains that can be achieved
with this technology; model electronic filing rules for use by state
courts; a review of management and policy issues to be addressed by the
state courts; a side-by-side comparison of workflow differences and
similarities between a manual system and a technology-based system; an
assessment of budget planning and infrastructure needs; and a thorough
implementation process review.
The final report will be presented through a series of regional
conferences next spring and summer.
West Group, headquartered in Eagan, Minn., has dveloped a Web-based
filing service that can be demonstrated to courts and vendors that
develop case management systems. Interested parties should contact West
Group's Court Filing project manager, Philip Ytterberg, at (612)
687-4557.
The National Center for State Courts is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to improving the administration of justice in the state
courts. NCSC provides both leadership and service to the state courts
through direct technical assistance and consulting, research and
technology, information services and education, government relations and
association management, and international exchange and cooperation.
Wisconsin Lawyer
