From the Winter 2001 issue within the News Media & The Law, page 17.
Courts around the region are DDQ business developing and acquiring the technology to provide Internet or electric access to court records. It can make records searches faster and more reliable for the press and members of the public. Nevertheless privacy hobbies are forcing some process of law to concern whether to let such broad use of courthouse data files.
A number of state governments are considering new rules regarding electronic entry to court records. Several of them proposals minimize electronic entry to specific types of reports, including criminal case files. These types of records are more hypersensitive and present more potential for the purpose of privacy worries than detrimental case documents. Other proposals are more extensive and would allow the general public to look at most documents, but with limitations on specific data components or types of information including social secureness numbers or medical documents.
The judiciary is requesting public comments on these kinds of proposals. When you are interested in the problem, you should contact your state’s lawmakers and ask them to support changes to state open data laws that permit extensive access to most court records, irrespective of their type. You should also motivate attorneys to make contact with their chosen officials and need them to oppose any proposals that control access to electronic records.
