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