| Court records pertain to all the files and | | | | |
| documentation kept by a court before, during | | | | Electronic court records, available on the |
| and after legal proceedings. It is usually | | | | Internet by request, has been met with |
| the task of the court reporter to keep a | | | | opposition because of the threats to the |
| faithful record of what transpires during a | | | | personal privacy of those involved in the |
| session in court and it is from this | | | | cases. However, most county and state courts |
| transcript that court records come about. | | | | believe that since these are matters of |
| Along with the transcript, other | | | | public record, making them available whether |
| documentation is also included in court | | | | through actual offices or virtual offices in |
| documents such as legal forms, evidence, and | | | | cyberspace do not make much of a qualitative |
| other related files. | | | | difference. Actually, it remains of utmost |
| | | | importance that these court records are |
| Different groups of people require access to | | | | accessible to the general public to prove the |
| court records for a variety of reasons. For | | | | integrity and transparency of the judicial |
| instance, reporters and journalists usually | | | | system. |
| request for court proceedings to get more | | | | |
| information about a story that they are | | | | While recognizing the right of the public to |
| working on or to get the 'first scoop' on a | | | | information, the safety of those mentioned in |
| recent occurrence. | | | | court records must also be upheld. Since |
| | | | court documents need to be filled with |
| The legal community is another group of | | | | accurate details, releasing them to the |
| people actively involved in acquiring court | | | | public should never be at the expense of the |
| documents, whether it's to conduct research | | | | proper enforcement of the law. The danger is |
| or build a case. For the latter, previous | | | | not only a forever tarnished reputation; it |
| court records may be used against someone | | | | is also very likely that someone may want to |
| involved in a current court case. | | | | seek revenge and as such 'track down' people |
| | | | involved in a particular case. |
| Collectors and creditors are often eager to | | | | |
| determine the outcome of a case and will need | | | | It is thus up to the court to decide, |
| court documents to justify that their debtors | | | | particularly in cases where a lot of |
| need to pay them immediately according to | | | | sensitive information is involved, when |
| what the law has ruled. Court proceedings | | | | access to court records should be given. It |
| become proof that they can now pursue their | | | | is usually limited to members of the court |
| non-payers, especially if their settlements | | | | and parties to the litigation but if just |
| have been granted or if it has been | | | | cause is provided by a member of the public, |
| recognized that the latter is financially | | | | then they may be given to them as well. |
| capable of making payments. | | | | |