CD-ROM Filings at Trial and Beyond

Authors

• Clint F. Sare

Abstract

For motions and briefs, using digital formats - such as a CD-ROM format - may provide significant benefits. Very few courts, however, accept electronic documents for filing in place of paper documents. Thus, for now, computer media may be used only to supplement those traditional filings. This paper discusses the following issues related to CD-ROM filings: (1) when CDROM filings may be allowed in trial and appellate courts; (2) what the disk may and should contain; and (3)whattechnical requirements may apply to such CDROM filings.

Because CD-ROM filings are far from standard, and are sometimes unacceptable, this article is necessarily forward-looking. Still, given the rapid change in technology, the issues addressed here will almost certainly arise soon in many courts.

This article focuses on the CD-ROM format because of its widespread use and adoption. But many issues discussed in this article apply equally to filing other types of computer media.

Recommended Citation

Clint F. Sare, CD-ROM Filings at Trial and Beyond, 3 Computer L. Rev. & Tech. J. 1 (1999)