Courts' transition to e-filing well underway.

Keeping the Supreme Court updated on electronic filing progress, ensuring uniformity for e-filing in different counties, and monitoring the progress of counties in making e-filing available for attorneys occupied the Florida Courts E-Filing Authority at its July 26 teleconference.

The authority runs the Internet portal that is the sole access to the new e-filing system being set up for the state court system.

The portal board heard that 51 of the state's 67 counties made the July 1 date set by Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers for being ready to accept all types of civil filings from attorneys. (See related story, page 5.)

Some counties are still accepting electronic filings through their local e-filing systems that predated the portal and the statewide e-filing effort, and those counties are continuing to work to connect to the portal.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

According to the newest Supreme Court order in case no. SC11-399, the drop-dead date for attorneys and clerks to begin e-filing all civil case types is April 1, 2013. So while counties are in process, some are having issues with migration to new systems.

Putnam County Clerk and Portal Authority Chair Tim Smith began a discussion about a standing report to the Supreme Court to keep it abreast of the accomplishments and the ongoing needs across the state, for both the trial court clerks and the appellate clerks.

"It would be a good way for us to work with the court and make sure they are aware that we are continuing to move forward," Smith said. "If we keep our partners aware of the status, there are no surprises."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sarasota County Clerk Karen Rushing said it was important to provide the status report to the Legislature so lawmakers were also aware of the progress being made.

The board also discussed the request from two counties to authorize access to non-attorney agencies so they can file paperwork in criminal cases. That would allow local law enforcement the ability to send case information electronically, rather than make a special trip to the clerk's office to drop off paperwork. In particular, it would help in Santa Rosa County where the criminal e-filing process has taken a front seat.

Santa Rosa Clerk Mary Johnson receives electronic case filings from the state attorney and the public defender, then electronically sends the criminal case paperwork to the judges. Johnson said the judges are handling cases with computers on the bench.

"Getting documents from...