Third Court Taking Courtesy E-Copies
As a follow up to this post on the status of e-filing in the Texas appellate courts, the Third Court of Appeals is now accepting electronic courtesy copies. The court is also asking (but not requiring) the party responsible for requesting or filing the record and briefs to submit e-copies of such documents on a CD or DVD in searchable PDF format. For specific guidelines, see the "Electronic Filing" link on the court's web site.
I haven't surveyed the otherintermediate appellate courts, but if they aren't doing thisalready, they certainly should follow the Third Court's lead.
The Tenth Court seems to have been in the lead on this one (following the Texas Supreme Court's example). The Tenth Court has been requesting the parties to submit electronic copies of their briefs as PDFs since December 2005.
Like the Texas Supreme Court, the Tenth Court also makes those PDFs available for the public on its website. The briefs can be found through the "Electronic Briefs" link on the Tenth Court's main page.
A quick look around shows the Fourth Court now has an announcement similar to the Third Court's (using the term "Electronic Briefing" and some slightly different text). Since those two courts' programs are so new, it's not yet clear if they or others will follow the example of making the electronic briefs into a public resource.
Thanks for the comments, Don. I think the smart money says that the majority (if not all) of the intermediate courts will soon start accepting electronic copies of briefs and records for their own convenience. True e-filing and posting briefs will likely take longer.
The Tenth Court of Appeals should be commended for making e-briefs available on-line - an example other courts should follow. Courts should also be willing to accept scanned copies that are not pdf searchable - and scan hard-copy briefs, budget permitting - in order to avoid narrowing availability to appeals with more technologically sophisticated counsel and law firms.
For Waco Court of Appeals online briefs go to
http://www.10thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/ebriefs/2007_ebriefs.asp
Sorry, Don Cruse. I had offered the kudos to the 10th before I saw your comment. Happened to have the same thought. I am adding the link to the e-briefs page to add something new.
Perhaps Adele Hedges, as chair of the Steering Committe on the Texas Appeals Management and eFiling System project can push things in the right direction. Alas, her own court is not exactly on the cutting edge in this respect.
http://www.courts.state.tx.us/oca/pdf/tames-newsltr-v1i1.pdf
http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/justice_ahedges.asp