The U.S. Court of International Trade’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) System, which will enable the Court and the Bar to interact electronically, via the internet, is moving forward toward implementation. Counsel will be able to file documents and the Court will be able to serve orders and opinions electronically using the Internet. Counsel, parties and the public will have instantaneous, round the clock access to case information and documents.

DEPLOYMENT

The CM/ECF System has been deployed to all Judges’ Chambers and to staff within the Office of the Clerk at the Court. Additionally, the System and the CM/ECF User’s Manual has been tested by a pilot group of approximately 20 government and private practitioners.

ACTIONS IN CM/ECF

The CM/ECF System contains docket information for the following actions

1. All actions filed before January 1, 2001 (with the exception of Harbor Maintenance Tax  actions) that were pending as of January 1, 2002;
    
2. All actions (pending or terminated) filed on or after January 1, 2001;

3. All terminated actions with a pending appeal as of January 1, 2002;

4. All pending actions suspended under a pending test case or on a Suspension Disposition Calendar; and

5. All pending actions that are consolidated with a pending consolidated lead case.

The CM/ECF System attaches to the relevant docket entry, a PDF version of a document filed with or issued by the Court. A user may access PDF attachments through a hyperlink that appears with the docket entry.

Currently, only non-confidential documents are available through the System. Although the CM/ECF System has the capability to receive and maintain confidential filings, those filings will continue to be filed with the Clerk’s Office in paper form in accordance with the Court’s Administrative Order 02-01 until further notice. Additionally, counsel will continue to file all documents that initiate an action or any document that requires a filing fee in paper form in accordance with the Court’s Administrative Order 02-01.

It should be noted that the Office of the Clerk currently is imaging (scanning) pleadings, motions, briefs and other papers for posting to the Court’s CM/ECF System. Any individual, who has a password and ID, will be able to read, download, store and print the full content of the imaged (scanned) documents. The Clerk’s Office is not imaging (scanning) or posting documents that are sealed or otherwise restricted by court order. For further information see, Notice dated April 15, 2003.

In order to gain access to the CM/ECF System, attorneys and non-attorneys must submit a registration form.

Attorneys will receive a login and password for the live database. Attorneys will have query only capability during the initial phase of the deployment of CM/ECF. Once the E-Filing capability is deployed, attorneys will have the ability to file documents electronically.

Non-attorneys will receive a login and password for the live database. Non-attorneys will have query only capability. Non-attorneys will not have the capability to file documents electronically.