--Court to implement mandatory electronic filing to improve efficiency and access-- 
 
The DC Superior Court will begin transitioning to mandatory electronic filing or “eFiling” for Civil II cases for parties represented by counsel.  The purpose of eFiling is to provide the public and the legal community with user-friendly, low-cost access to the Courts.  The new system will allow court documents to be transmitted over the web for acceptance into the Court’s electronic case management system.  The system generates electronic notifications to all parties, as well as the judge presiding over the case. 
 
eFiling was implemented in Superior Court with a new case management system in May 2005, to increase the timeliness, efficiency, and accuracy of court filings, but initially involved only Civil I cases.  The Court is now expanding eFiling to include Civil II cases as well.  The transition to mandatory eFiling of Civil II cases will begin with a period of voluntary eFiling from October until February 4, 2007, during which time parties may jointly elect to eFile.  Starting February 5, 2007, the court will require that Civil II case filings be submitted electronically.  Pro se, or unrepresented, parties may participate in the eFiling program, but will not be required to do so.   
 
“This is another major step in our efforts to automate court records and processes, to enhance access and make our system more convenient for the public,” said Chief Judge Rufus G. King III.  “eFiling saves time and paper, allows easy access to filings for parties, attorneys, judges and the public, and enables us to process cases more efficiently.   We are pleased that the Civil I eFiling pilot project was so successful and that we are now able to expand that to the thousands of Civil II cases filed in the Superior Court each year.” 
 
Note:  For more information, and the list of eFiling case types, see http://www.dccourts.gov/efiling.