Iowa’s court system going paperless

Sometime in 2015 every Iowa county will require private attorneys, county attorneys, pro se litigants, law enforcement, Department of Corrections, clerk of courts, judges and probation, parole and juvenile officials to electronically file court documents using the judicial branch's Electronic Document Management System.

Currently, approximately 66 percent of Iowa counties have converted fully to e-filing using the EDMS. Appanoose County is scheduled to convert fully to the EDMS on March 16.

The decision to convert to electronic filing of court documents will mostly affect those whose job involves the judicial system.

Scott Ruhnke, Iowa Judicial Branch court liaison, Thursday afternoon introduced the EDMS to a crowded Appanoose County courtroom consisting of law enforcement, judges, attorneys, clerk office workers and others.

The idea is no more paper will be allowed. The advantage?

Judges will have access to documents well in advance of court dates; all those involved will have access to court documents 24 hours a day, seven days a week; EDMS creates efficiency, reduces waste and 'will help in reducing the time a case takes from initiation to closure,” according to literature distributed by Ruhnke.

The public will have access to court files, but it won't be in a paper folder. Instead, when you go to the clerk of court's office you'll have to login to a computer to access the e-files.

'Use of the electronic document management system will have no effect on what documents or case files are accessible to the public and what documents or files are confidential. Any member of the general public will be able to view a non-confidential file or document by using a public access terminal located at the courthouse. Lawyers, parties to a case, self-represented litigants, and abstractors will have the ability to remotely access some court documents,” according to information from Iowa Courts Online. 'There will be at least one public access terminal for viewing and filing in each courthouse.”

According to Iowa Courts Online there will be no 'cost to view a non-confidential file or document electronically. It is anticipated that registered users and registered filers will pay a fee as required by law and determined by the Technology Governance Board.”

In special situations the clerk can on a one-time basis allow paper filing.

Administrative records will remain filed on paper.