PACER update

Reposted from the AALL Advocacy listserv:

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has updated their informational page regarding the removal of certain information from the PACER database. The updated notice, found at  https://www.pacer.gov/announcements/general/webpacer.html, indicates that the removal is the result of an upgrade to a new system for the management of electronic case files and that the old system that these individual courts provided their cases under is not compatible with the new system.  Individual courts affected by the change, (like the Second Circuit at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/clerk/dockets/prior_to_2010.html), have updated their web pages to indicate how users can go about requesting docket information that has been removed from PACER. Of course, contacting the individual courts subjects users to different billing costs than PACER (.10 per page on PACER versus .50 per page by contacting the individual courts).

The Government Relations Committee and the Government Relations Office continue to monitor these developments and discuss our concerns with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.  We are considering further steps to take and a more detailed response moving forward. The GRC and the GRO would welcome feedback from our members as we consider a more detailed response.