Notice Inviting Comment
Proposed Interim Electronic Filing Guidelines and Protocols for Electronic Filing Pilot Projects in the Trial and Appellate Courts
NOTICE
The Supreme Judicial Court's Rules Committee
Invites Comments on Proposed Interim Electronic Filing Guidelines
and Protocols for Electronic Filing Pilot Projects
in the Trial and Appellate Courts
The Supreme Judicial Court Rules Committee invites comments on proposed Electronic Filing Guidelines and Protocols (Protocols). The Protocols are intended to provide guidance during the implementation of several electronic filing pilot projects that are planned for both the Trial and Appellate Courts. Pilot projects using electronic filing are expected to begin in the Appeals, BMC, District, Probate and Supreme Judicial Court during the upcoming months. The pilot projects will take place in one court division each in the District, Boston Municipal and Probate and Family Courts, and in the offices of the Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth, the Clerk for Suffolk County, and the Appeals Court, for one particular case type. The pilot projects will be available on a voluntary basis. During the period of the pilots projects, the Protocols will serve as an interim source of rules and procedures.
The Protocols were proposed by a working group of court personnel from the Trial and Appellate Courts. They set forth the technical and procedural requirements that will govern during the period of the pilot projects. Additional adjustments may be required as the pilots progress or in response to vendor requirements. It is expected that the experiences with the Protocols during the pilot projects will be valuable in developing permanent rules and procedures.
The Protocols appear below.
The Rules Committee solicits and welcomes comments from the bar prior to taking action on the Protocols. Comments should be directed to Christine Burak, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston 02108 or to christine.burak@sjc.state.ma.us on or before May 18, 2012.
