If you aren't already, it's time to get acquainted with
electronic filing in Texas state courts. The Texas Supreme Court
has set a timeline by which all Texas courts must stop accepting
filings on paper in civil cases.
Electronic filing is already mandatory in the Texas Supreme Court;
the Courts of Appeals in Dallas, Houston, and Austin; and several
district courts. Most of the more populous counties in Texas offer
e-filing as an option, but some notable holdouts—like Tarrant
County—remain.
Starting January 1, 2014, e-filing will be mandatory for civil
cases in counties with a population of 500,000 or more and in all
appellate courts. For smaller counties, the requirement is phased
in over a two-year period, though counties may elect to make
e-filing mandatory earlier. The Supreme Court's order can be
found here.
E- filing changes not only how we file documents with courts, but
also how judges read and absorb information from those filings.
Many jurists in mandatory e-filing courts report primarily reading
pleadings and briefs on their computer screens or tablets.
Effectively presenting information to "screen readers"
involves considerations not familiar to most litigators, such as
using bookmarks and hyperlinks in lengthy pleadings or briefs,
avoiding footnotes, and giving more thought to layout and font
choice. Electronic pleadings and briefs may need to function more
like a webpage, and less like a paper document, particularly since
the target audience is unlikely to read them on paper. Litigators
who understand how best to communicate in this format will have an
advantage over those who continue organizing and writing pleadings
for the "paper age."
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
