news Colorado Judicial Branch Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator ______April 18, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Salaz 303/837-3633 1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633

Mandatory e-filing ordered in Third Judicial District selected case types E-filing requirement begins June 1, 2006

Mandatory e-filing in district court civil and probate court filings will soon be implemented in the Third Judicial District (Huerfano and Las Animas counties). Beginning June 1, 2006, all non-sealed pleadings, motions, briefs, exhibits and other documents filed in district court civil cases must be filed electronically. “As technology advances and becomes more prevalent in our day-to-day lives, the Third Judicial District seeks ways to effectively use new technologies to increase productivity,” says Third Judicial District Chief Judge Claude W. Appel. “E-filing in civil and probate cases helps the courts by increasing our productivity and making filed documents available online. “It is of similar benefit to attorneys who can simultaneously file their documents and serve all parties electronically,” adds Appel. “Attorneys can also monitor new developments in the cases online.” The system, powered by LexisNexis File and Serve, enables attorneys to file documents with the courts and electronically serve other attorneys in the case from any Internet-connected personal computer. Once a document has been filed, courts can review, accept or reject, and store the documents online. Notifications are instantaneous. The information contained in the electronic filing is also automatically downloaded into the court’s electronic case management system. This saves data entry on the court side. Colorado courts launched the first statewide electronic filing service in January 2001. The total system allows electronic filing of legal documents for civil, domestic relations, probate and water court cases in all Colorado district courts. However the mandatory e-filing procedure being implemented in the Third Judicial District at this point is only required in district court civil and probate pleadings in both counties. All documents relating to a single pleading or paper may be filed electronically as a single transaction. For example, a motion, exhibits and related affidavits should be filed under a single transaction. Parties who are not represented by an attorney may continue to file documents in the traditional paper format. The Clerk of Court will scan and upload certain paper filed documents to LexisNexis File and Serve. There is no fee for this service. Sealed and suppressed cases may be exempt from the mandatory filing requirement for district court civil cases. Documents and exhibits submitted to the Court under seal may be filed in paper form or filed as determined by the judge.

Editor’s note: A full copy of the Administrative Order 2006-05, Order Regarding Electronic Filing in Civil and Probate Cases is available at http://www.courts.state.co.us/district/03rd/adminordr06-05.pdf. The LexisNexis File & Serve web site, lexisnexis.comifileandserve, provides additional information regarding electronic filing computer requirements, fees, service of documents and training opportunities

This information is provided as an e-mail service of the Colorado State Judicial Branch, Office of State Court Administrator, 1301 Pennsylvania Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colo. 80203. To discontinue this service or update your e-mail address, please respond to this message with your name, contact information and any comments.