Statewide Electronic Access Approved

At present, each Clerk of Court maintains its own records and computer system for their particular jurisdiction. My office subscribes to access the Sixth Judicial Circuit's computerized records system so that we may access certain records and to see if a suit is filed in a particular case. It has long been debated amongst lawyers and Judges that Florida should implement a statewide system for access to all such documents. The cost and large scale of such a project have resulted in no such program to date. But good news is here. On July 1st of this year the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court issued an Order to set standards for such a system. The Florida Legislature passed legislation that requires such a system, including electronic filing of law suits, to be up and running within a year. Though it may be a cumbersome process, it seems clear this is long over due.