E-government and the judicial system: online access to case information

By its very nature, the judicial process necessitates the production and dissemination of massive amounts of documents. Traditionally, these documents have existed on paper. Systematic cataloguing and organisation of these voluminous documents are essential since judges, counsel and the public have a right and need to access them. The technological revolution has been slow in coming to the judicial system, yet there are few places in which technology can have more of an immediate and beneficial impact. This paper examines the current state of online access to case information in the US judicial system. An overview of the judicial process is provided, along with a discussion of the extent and nature of online access in the federal and state court systems. Advantages and problems associated with technological innovation are also discussed.