June Department Spotlight- Criminal

Posted by: Marsha Bills

DIGITAL COURTS PROJECT BEGINNING CRIMINAL
PILOT PROGRAM IN 283rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Following the successful implementation of the District Clerk’s Digital Courts Project in the 302nd Judicial District Family Court and the introduction of the system in the 101st Judicial District Civil Court, the program will begin in the 283rd Judicial District Criminal Court in June with the collaboration of Judge Rick Magnis. “We are very excited about our upcoming pilot project in the Criminal Courts, hoping that we will achieve the same results as the Family Court,” says Anne Erwin, Criminal Courts Operations Manager.

“Judge Magnis has eagerly agreed to allow us to image all his pending cases and will no longer use the paper court files,” adds Anne. In a process similar to that used in the Family and Civil courts, after the initial scanning of all existing pending files, any incoming documents and pleadings in those cases will be immediately scanned by the two deputy district clerks working in that court. The scanned images will then become the permanent court record and will only be available or viewable by computer. “We are working with District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons to be using this system in all of criminal courts by January 2010,” says Anne. “We know what excellent results the Family pilot project had in terms of streamlining the courts and serving judges, attorneys and the public more efficiently and expect to reproduce the efficiency here.”

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