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Court of Appeals Launches Public Access Search System

To better serve the public and the bar, the Court of Appeals has developed and on February 1, 2013, will be launching an online service - the Court of Appeals Public Access and Search System (Court-PASS). Court-PASS provides an improved method for the filing of records and briefs in digital format on appeals to the Court of Appeals and, for the first time, offers universal online access to these documents through a publicly-searchable database on the Court's website.

Court-PASS will be maintained as a permanent public archive for documents related to Court of Appeals cases pending on or filed after January 1,2013. Anyone may search or browse the Court-PASS database free of charge, and may view or download documents from every stage of the case at the Court of Appeals, including motion papers for civil motions in which leave to appeal has been granted by the Court of Appeals, and briefs and records in civil and criminal appeals. Court-PASS also incorporates the videos and transcripts of oral arguments, as well as Court decisions, all of which are already available on the Court's website.

The Court-PASS database offers three retrieval methods: the docket, a browse function and a search function. The docket contains a snapshot of frequently requested information for all undecided cases, including the due dates set for filing of briefs, records and appendices; the dates on which such documents are actually filed; scheduled dates of oral argument; and attorney contact information. The browse function allows users to view a list of all pending and decided cases in the database, sorted alphabetically by case name. The search function retrieves pending and decided cases by party name, argument date, decision date, authoring Judge, appeal number, subject matter classification or citation, or any combination of these criteria.

The Court recognizes that Court-PASS increases accessibility to information contained in public records and briefs. Accordingly, mechanisms have been built into this digital filing system to ensure that attorneys meet their responsibilities with respect to confidential and sensitive matters (e.g., social security numbers, financial account numbers, and names of minor children). Documents and cases that are sealed by court order or by operation of law will not be available on Court-PASS.

In addition to increased public access, Court-PASS offers a more advanced system for litigants to submit their appeal papers digitally, replacing the current system by which hard copies are reduced to CDs or DVDs and mailed to the Clerk's Ofice. Court-PASS allows parties with appeals, certified questions pursuant to section 500.27 of the Court of Appeals Rules of Practice, or judicial conduct matters before the Court to directly upload to the Court digital copies of records and briefs. As a benefit to litigants, the required number of papers to be filed in hard copy is reduced from an original and nineteen copies to an original and nine copies.

The Court's Rules have been amended to address Court-PASS and certain other minor matters. The Court's technical specifications, which are referenced in the Rules, have also been amended.

For more information please visit the Court's website at: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/ctapps/