Case Management

CM / ECF Order

Electronic Case Files
NOTE:  All files are in PDF format

Last Update: 09/09/2009

 

USAGE OF RECAP SOFTWARE
  
NOTICE FOR PACER FEE-EXEMPT USERS
    The court would like to remind fee-exempt PACER users of the terms of the exemption and of potential issues associated with a new software application called RECAP.  It was designed by a group from Princeton University to enable the sharing of court documents on the Internet.  Once a user loads RECAP, documents that he or she subsequently accesses via PACER are automatically sent to a public Internet repository.  Other RECAP/PACER users are then able to see whether documents are available from the Internet repository.
  
    A fee exemption applies only for limited purposes.  Any transfer of data obtained as the result of a fee exemption is prohibited unless expressly authorized by the court.  Therefore, fee-exempt PACER users must refrain from the use of RECAP.
  
    The prohibition on transfer of information received without fee is not intended to bar a quote or reference to information received as a result of a fee exemption in a scholarly or other similar work.
  
NOTICE FOR CM/ECF FILERS
    The court would like to make CM/ECF filers aware of certain security concerns relating to a software application or "plug-in" called RECAP, which was designed by a group from Princeton University to enable the sharing of court documents on the Internet.
  
    Once a user loads RECAP, documents that he or she subsequently accesses via PACER are automatically sent to a public Internet repository.  Other RECAP/PACER users are then able to see whether documents are available from the Internet repository. RECAP captures District and Bankruptcy Court documents, but has not yet incorporated Appellate Court functionality.  At this time, RECAP does not appear to provide users with access to restricted or sealed documents.  Please be aware that RECAP is "open-source" software, which can be freely obtained by anyone with Internet access and modified for benign or malicious purposes, such as facilitating unauthorized access to restricted or sealed documents.  Accordingly, CM/ECF filers are reminded to be diligent about their computer security practices to ensure that documents are not inadvertently shared or compromised.
    
    The court and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts will continue to analyze the implications of RECAP or related-software and advise you of any ongoing or further concerns.


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