A roadmap for more accessible efiling
For electronic filing (efiling) systems to work as intended, courts need to ensure they are accessible to everyone — including self-represented litigants — and also address language, financial, and technological barriers.
This report takes a comprehensive look at efiling access in state courts across the U.S., highlighting challenges and showcasing best practices. It offers recommendations for providing fee waivers and improving accessibility, language support, and usability.
Here are some of the top takeaways from our report:
- Many courts offer efiling, but self-represented litigants still face barriers in some states
- Some courts can't waive fees online, making it harder for those who cannot afford filing costs
- Self-help legal resources within efiling platforms improve usability but are not always widely available
- Non-English speakers face challenges since many efiling systems lack translation support
- Disability accommodations, such as screen reader compatibility and accessible design, are missing in many states
- Courts should collect data on efiling use and review accessibility to improve services and ensure equal access
Increasing access to efiling can strengthen public trust and ensure fair access to justice for everyone.