The Indiana Supreme Court technology team, led by Justice Steven David and Court of Appeals judge Paul Mathias, has already begun negotiations to purchase the software needed to bring e-filing to all 92 Indiana counties.
Mathias notes that the federal courts have already moved to e-filing, which he calls a new basic responsibility of government.
“The clerks’ shelf space at the state and local level, the postage, the copying, the collating, a person’s time all along the way -- e-filing will do away with,” Mathias says.
Justice David says there’s just one missing piece.
“What we need, what the state needs, is sustainable, predictable funding,” David says.
David says the judicial branch is asking for $10 million in the next budget – $5 million per year. With that, he says, the courts will be able to create five e-filing pilot programs, followed by full rollout to all 92 counties -- all without asking Hoosiers to pay an extra fee to use the service.
