Presentation about E-Filing for Maine Trial Lawyers Association
September 2, 2020
Access the Presentation from this link on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/454710156
More information about E-courts can be found on the Maine Judicial Branch website:
Maine Bar Association hosts video call with Court Administration about E-filing
Bar Talk to feature information about e-courts
Monday August 24, 2020 at 11 am
Supreme Judicial Court Issues Rules of Electronic Courts
effective August 21, 2020
Maine Courts launch E-Courts Page
Information about the e-filing and digital court record management is available from the courts website
BANGOR COURTS WILL BE THE FIRST TO GET ELECTRONIC STATE COURT RECORDS
The Maine eCourts system first became available in traffic cases in Maine district courts statewide in fall 2018. A new electronic database we be implement in Bangor District Court and Penobscot County Superior Court of Bangor starting this fall. This is the beginning of an effort to make all trial court cases electronically accessible to the public via the internet by 2022. The new system will include public access computers that will be available at the district and superior courthouses in Bangor when the system goes online. Once the civil-cases and family-matters go online, all trial court case types, including criminal and juvenile dockets, will go online in the Penobscot and Piscataquis County courts in spring 2021.
Bangor Daily News: Bangor courthouses to bring new electronic case file system online this fall
August 7, 2020
Maine State Bar Association to Offer 2 Credit E-Filing Continuing Legal Education Program for Members of the Bar to learn about upcoming digital conversion
Wednesday August 26, 2020 9:00-11:00 am
With the recent release of PMO-SJC-7, the Judicial Branch determined that almost all trial court proceedings must be conducted remotely, through video or telephonic formats. Additionally, the Judicial Branch will roll out its electronic filing program this fall beginning Oct. 5 in District 5. Representatives from the courts will provide information about the rollout plan; file and service requirements, including a demonstration; rules of electronic court systems; access to electronic case files; use of Zoom in the courtroom; and a Q&A session.
https://www.mainebar.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1412266&group=
Bangor Courthouses to Bring New Electronic Case File System Online This Fall
Article from the Bangor Daily News 8/7/2020
Starting this fall, a new electronic system will help the public remotely access most civil cases and family matters in Bangor District Court and Penobscot County Superior Court of Bangor. Yhe new system will include public access computers that will be available at the district and superior courthouses in Bangor when the system goes online.
A statewide Maine eCourts system, will make trial court cases electronically accessible to the public by 2022, and will provide attorneys and self-represented parties with greater access to case records and more convenient ways to manage cases.
The full article can be found at the link below:
Judicial Branch is asking for $8.5 million in emergency federal funds to improve those video and telephone hearings.
Portland Press Herald Article from August 3, 2020
Courts have been slowly scheduling more hearings, trying to address a mounting pandemic backlog relying on video conferencing with no widespread availability of public access.
Courtrooms have been open for people who want to listen in on virtual hearings, but Friday’s announcement (see July 29 posting below) offered the first official guidance about how the public will be allowed to watch online hearings online without going to a courthouse.
Court officials first submitted the funding request in May and court official made their case to the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee last week. Although not responsible for allocating federal funding, the AFAC is makes recommendations to the governor’s office.
The full Press Herald Article appears at the link below
Judicial Branch provides remote public access to court proceedings
A July 30th order provides that (except for certain proceedings listed in the order, or unless otherwise ordered by a court) all proceedings in Maine’s trial courts shall be conducted remotely, by video or telephone. Cases will continue to be scheduled subject to available court resources, including technology. A party may file a motion to request an in-person proceeding if there are special circumstances. Factors to be considered by the court include the health and safety of court staff, parties, and witnesses; the ability of parties to participate remotely; and Judicial Branch resources, including courtroom space, technology assistance, and clerical assistance. The order also outlines the process for conducting remote proceedings.
Pursuant to PMO-SJC-7:
Courtrooms in use for non-confidential proceedings shall remain open to the public during hours of operation. Any member of the public or media wishing to attend a non-confidential court proceeding may do so in person and subject to the required conditions set forth in the Plan.
Administrative Order JB-05-15 shall apply to media coverage of remote court proceedings during the pandemic. Members of the media may request direct access to cover a public but remote court proceeding being conducted solely by video or telephone and access a recording of or live audio stream of a court proceeding by submitting the Media Notification-Requested Coverage form.
Courts’ COVID-19 Response page:
Members of the public who wish to observe or listen to remote court proceedings should contact the clerk of the court where the hearing is being held. A listing of court locations and contact information is appended to PMO-SJC-7 found at the link below:
https://www.courts.maine.gov/covid19/pmo-sjc-7.pdf
For More Information see the court system’s press release at
https://www.courts.maine.gov/covid19/PR-Revised-PMP-and-Order.pdf
Judicial Branch Provides Maine eCourts Update on July 15, 2020
Maine eCourts is the Judicial Branch’s new online court case management system, powered by Tyler Technologies’ Odyssey software.
- EFiling and other features of Maine eCourts is on track to be available beginning in the fall of 2020 for some types of cases in Bangor District Court and Penobscot County Superior Court, as well as the Business Consumer Docket statewide. All trial court case types will be available in Penobscot and Piscataquis County courts in spring 2021, with additional courts to follow. Criminal and juvenile dockets will be among those cases that will be available in the spring of 2021.
- Unrepresented parties will not be required to use eFiling.
- Public Access Computers (PACs) will be available at courthouses offering eFiling and Maine eCourts portal access to court records. Clerks will be available at the courthouse to help unrepresented parties use the terminals.
- Online tools, Online trainings, and tutorials – will be available.
- Technical support and helplines – The Judicial Branch will offer helplines for users during normal business hours. Offsite technical support will also be provided by Tyler Technologies’ call centers from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. EST.
The full press release is available at the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DK9B7rsHFZHvKUaYTHCSqRhakeGpYIUU/view?usp=sharing