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News

August 6, 2008

Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner To Chair Statewide E-Filing Committee

ORLANDO, FL — Orange County Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner has been named chairman of a statewide committee that will create a Florida portal for Electronic Case Filing. ECF allows attorneys and pro-se litigants to electronically initiate cases and subsequent pleadings 24/7.

Gardner has been a pioneer in the development of e-filing in Florida. The Orange County Clerk’s Office began offering ECF for Complex Business Litigation cases in 2006 and expanded the program to all Circuit Civil cases in July 2008.

More than 3,600 attorneys have registered to e-file with her office.

Among the advantages of e-filing:

A process that could take days can be done in less than an hour.
24/7 means there’s no rushing to get to the courthouse before it closes.
Attorneys and pro se litigants save money on staff, postage and other costs.
They are notified electronically of any action in the case.
ECF requires no paper.
ECF is more efficient for clerk’s offices. It requires less time and staff – and therefore money – to accept a case electronically.

“I’m passionate about Electronic Case Filing and appreciate the opportunity to lead this very important committee,’’ Gardner said. “My experience has been that e-filing serves the best interests of the attorney and pro-se litigant, as well as my office. It’s efficient, as well as cost- and time-efficient. It’s also good for the environment, not just because it requires no paper, but because it also eliminates a great deal of traffic to and from the courthouse.’’

Gardner has a long history of experience on policy-making committees and blue-ribbon panels, having served on the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Privacy and Court Records, the Orange County Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Commission and the Orange County Jail Oversight Committee.

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Clerk’s Office Expands ECF To Circuit Civil Cases

February, 2008

ORLANDO, FL — Orange County Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner is pleased to announce that Electronic Case Filing (ECF) has been expanded to all Circuit Civil cases effective July 1, 2008. Previously, e-filing was only available for Complex Business Litigation cases.

The expansion means thousands more cases can be filed electronically, 24/7, from anywhere the attorney or pro se litigant has Internet access. The process is reduced from days to just under an hour and reduces the need for courier fees and postal services, to name just a few of the savings.

“We are delighted to make this efficient, time- and cost-saving customer service available to hundreds more attorneys and their clients, as well as to pro se litigants,’’ said Clerk Lydia Gardner, who noted the invaluable collaboration with Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in making ECF possible. “We anticipate accepting an additional 30,000 cases electronically in the coming year.’’

ECF allows attorneys and pro se litigants to initiate new cases and pay filing fees online, as well as to receive electronic notification of all documents filed in their cases 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, said Project Manager Carolyn Weber, who previously deployed e-filing in the Middle District of Florida for the Federal Court.

Already, more than 1,600 attorneys are registered to file electronically and more than 900 cases have been accessed through the system.

The Clerk offers regular training sessions to attorneys, law firms and paralegal organizations. For more information and training opportunities, please see our ECF information page on myorangeclerk.com..

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