Requirements and Benefits

The electronic filing system is simple and easy to use. Hardware and software requirements are minimal and inexpensive.

Technical requirements:

• A personal computer running a standard platform such as Windows or Macintosh.
• Word processing software.
• Internet access and a browser. The system has been certified with Netscape and Internet Explorer.
• Software to convert documents into PDF. There are a number of PDF utilities available that will accomplish the task of creating a PDF document. However, we recommend you avoid freeware PDF creation utilities.
• Scanning equipment may be useful.
• An email address, preferably not a commercial based email account like Yahoo, Google, or MSN. These commercial accounts are prone to spam and typically have in-box limitations, and will stop accepting email when the in-box is full.
• We recommend the use of a high speed Internet connection via DSL or cable modem. Dial-up access will be frustratingly slow for e-filing documents with the court.

Other Requirements:

• Attorneys admitted or otherwise authorized to practice in this Court must register as Filing Users. Newly admitted attorneys must register within 10 days of their admission. Attorneys admitted pro hac vice must register within 10 days of the order granting the motion to proceed pro hac vice . An eligible Pro Se Litigant may file papers with the Clerk by Traditional Filing, but is not precluded from filing electronically as approved by the Court.
• For additional requirements and procedures, each filing user is requested to review the Courts's Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronoc Filing prior to e-filing with the Court.

Benefits of Filing Electronically:

• 24-hour access to filed documents over the Internet.
• Automatic email notice of case activity.
• The ability to download and print documents directly from the court system.
• Concurrent access to case files by multiple parties.
• Secure storage of documents.
• Potential reduction in courier fees.
• Documents filed in text PDF (i.e. documents that are created electronically, rather than scanned) can be text-searched and text-copied. In other words you can highlight and copy text from someone else's motion or order and paste it into the document that you are preparing, saving you the time of retyping the information.