Publishing judicial case information on the web provides substantial benefits for the public and for courthouses. The public gains convenient, on-demand access to case information of interest, while courts sharply reduce the time they spend servicing public information requests. To achieve these benefits courthouses require a web publishing solution that integrates with their case management system, that pushes non-confidential case data to the web in a timely manner, and that provides a user-friendly information access experience for the public.
Effortless, Secure Web Publishing with Forecourt ePublish
Forecourt® ePublish, an add-on module for the Forecourt Case Management System (CMS), makes it simple for courthouses to share non-confidential case information and materials with the public over the internet. While managing cases within Forecourt CMS, court staff can easily differentiate public from non-public information by flagging specific cases or case information as Impounded. Each night Forecourt CMS automatically feeds the latest public (non-impounded) data to Forecourt ePublish for publishing on the web. For security and best performance, Forecourt ePublish generates one website hosted inside the court’s internal network for users inside the courthouse, and a mirror website hosted on an external server for external users.
Anytime, Anywhere Access for the Public and for Court Staff
Forecourt ePublish delivers the two things users most want in an information access website: powerful, fast-performing search so they can quickly find what they’re looking for; and clearly presented information so they can make sense of it once they’ve found it. In websites generated by Forecourt ePublish, users can search for cases by criteria including docket number, involved party, attorney appearance, court, judge, year filed, case status, and case type. The well-ordered case information display pages make it easy for users to review case data including involved party and attorney information, docket entries, and associated materials such as briefs or courtroom recordings. Courtroom calendar information can also be easily located and reviewed.
The anytime, anywhere public access that your court can deliver with Forecourt ePublish will benefit case litigants and attorneys, researchers and educators, and the press, as well as the interested public at large. Courthouse staff will also appreciate this fast, easy way to access case information from work, from home, or while on the road. Your court may also find that making a computer and the case information website available to court visitors cuts down on your need to provide in-person counter service.
Forecourt ePublish in Action: The Massachusetts Appellate Courts
Major court systems in New England use Forecourt CMS and Forecourt ePublish to provide web-based public access to case information. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court have relied on Forecourt as their public access solution for more than a decade. The Forecourt-generated case and calendar information has received positive public feedback, with many users commenting on the site’s ease of use.
- View the public access site of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court & Appeals Courts
- View the public access site of the Connecticut Housing Court System
- Contact us to talk about a public access solution for your court.