E-Filing Case Management Services in the US Federal Courts: The Next Generation: A Case Study

The U.S. Federal Courts Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) was responsible for developing the Case Management/Electronic Case File system (legacy CM/ECF) originally implemented in 1996 to service the federal courts. The AOUSC is presently developing its 2^nd generation service (NextGen). The IJCA carried an earlier narrative of CM/ECF’s evolution.  This second IJCA article describes the approach taken to define and develop that 2^nd generation CM/ECF system. This article reviews the methodology used for determining requirements; the new software tools and hardware technologies used; and the expanded functions and enhanced services being incorporated into the new product. Also included is an exploration of the various obstacles, problems, and organizational issues which occur when transitioning from a legacy system to one that is more modern and complex.