Bloomberg Law
Sept. 15, 2020, 11:57 PM UTC

U.S. Court Records Would Be Free Under House Judiciary Bill

Madison Alder
Madison Alder
Reporter

The public would gain free access to the electronic database of federal court records known as PACER under bipartisan legislation approved Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee.

The Open Courts Act (H.R. 8235) is sponsored by Georgia Reps. Hank Johnson (D) and Doug Collins (R).

“Convenient access to public records and public courthouses shouldn’t be a privilege just for the wealthy few and their silk stocking, tassel shoe wearing corporate lawyers,” Johnson said at the committee markup.

The PACER system’s fees have come under criticism for limiting public access. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled the ...

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