CM/ECF
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/CM_ECF_logo.png/220px-CM_ECF_logo.png)
CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) is the
History and associated applications
CM/ECF was first implemented in 1996 in the Northern District of Ohio to handle a large number of
Operational description
The main purpose of the system is to fulfill the legal obligation of the Clerk of Court as custodian of court records. Each case is assigned a number in the format D:YY-TT-SSSSS where D=Division Office (most districts are split into divisions), YY=Year, TT=Type (e.g. bk=bankruptcy, cv=civil, cr=criminal), SSSSS=Sequence number. The case number does not contain any type of court identifier.
The main list of the case is the
The application
CM/ECF is a web-based application that is written mainly in Perl and Java, which generates HTML with JavaScript for some client side validation. The software runs under
All documents are required to be filed in the PDF format. Other file types may be encapsulated inside PDF files, e.g. audio files in MP3 format, or video files. CM/ECF plans to require PDF/A compliant files to meet the requirements of the National Archives and Records Administration. Each court will set its own deadline for requiring documents to be filed in the PDF/A format. No warning period is planned.[6][7]
Extensive changes were made in version 3.3 to use Yahoo!'s YUI library. This has increased the complexity of the version 3.2 code. The 3.3 application sports a more modern interface with drop down menus and no frame. Much of the 3.2 simple HTML user interface is still available depending on the menu items selected.
The system is decentralized with each court running its own servers and its own copy of the software. Each court has a live server and separate training and test servers. The test server is used to make changes and install new versions before "going to live." The training server allows users to learn how to use CM/ECF without affecting live cases.
While the application is developed and maintained centrally by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, local staff members configure the application specifically for the local court to conform to local rules and practices.[8] Since source code can be modified locally, there is some variability in the application between districts. Most local changes are cosmetic and do not change the core functionality of the application.
The database design centers on the case record and each case record has multiple related records. For example, the "party" table lists parties to the case—Plaintiff, Defendant, Debtor, etc. In a bankruptcy case the Trustee, US Trustee, and certain creditors can become parties to a case. Each party is either
Security and privacy
CM/ECF was breached during the 2020 United States federal government data breach.[9][10][11] After gaining access, the attackers deployed "Teardrop", a piece of second-stage malware that likely gave them the ability to modify or exfiltrate data.[12][13]
See also
- PACER, Public Access to Court Electronic Records
- Electronic System for Trademark Trials and Appeals
- California Court Case Management System
- New York State Courts Electronic Filing System
- MassCourts
References
- ^ Cromwell, Tanya (2003-02-28). "Electronic case filing saves space, time, improves access to documents". Kansas City Business Journal.
- ^ Matthias, John (2007). E-filing Expansion in State, Local, and Federal courts 2007 (PDF). National Center for State Courts.
- ^ Next Generation of CM/ECF: Additional Functional Requirements Group Final Report (Report). 2012-02-27. p. iii.
In fact, we are currently running some two hundred distinct case management systems in the federal courts, with little consistency as to which release is employed, which features are activated, and what naming conventions are used.
- ^ "Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule". 2013-12-01.
- ^ "Free Written Opinions". Archived from the original on 2009-08-13.
- ^ "File a Case Frequently Asked Questions | PACER: Federal Court Records". pacer.uscourts.gov.
- ^ "FAQ PDF/A in CM/ECF". Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
- ^ "Ten Courts of Appeals Move to CM/ECF". The Third Branch. Vol. 38, no. 5. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
- ^ Volz, Dustin; McMillan, Robert (2021-01-07). "Federal Judiciary's Systems Likely Breached in SolarWinds Hack". WSJ. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ "SolarWinds Hack Compromises U.S. Courts Electronic Filings (1)". news.bloomberglaw.com.
- ^ Miller, Maggie (2021-01-07). "Federal judiciary likely compromised as part of SolarWinds hack". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ Krebs, Brian (2021-01-07). "Sealed U.S. Court Records Exposed in SolarWinds Breach". Krebs on Security. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ Starks, Tim (2021-01-07). "Federal courts are latest apparent victim of SolarWinds hack". CyberScoop. Retrieved 2021-01-12.