Technology, Technology, Technology…
Excitement prevails as we move forward with more innovative ways to improve our
services to the legal community using technology.
• Since our last posting in the The Legal Brief we received great response from
attorneys wanting to assist in beta testing for our new E-filing program. We will
be working with nine attorneys’ offices interested in assisting us with the E-filing
beta testing in the next couple of weeks.
We are in the process of completing a “Blueprint” for use in e-filing documents.
This document will identify the required equipment needed as well as the
mandatory specification required for any document submitted by E-file.
The document will also have to be transmitted in a certain format in order
to be received by our office properly which information will be a part of
the “Blueprint”.
• Because of insufficient funds, our E-filing system was written “in house” by
our Systems Manager. We recently achieved a “secure” website which is also
HIPAA compliant. This means that our system will not be at risk for hackers and
we can receive confidential documents.
Once documents are received for filing, you will receive an email notifying you
that the document has been received and filed. Once filed, it is immediately
processed and forwarded to judges electronically (if the case is scheduled for
hearing) and is available to purchase or view electronically.
• If you are interested in the E-filing process, we are still accepting names of
attorneys who are willing to be a part of the beta testing of this process. Please
email me at gouldb@nullco.thurston.wa.us.
Clerk’s Website: In an effort to keep up with the positive technological direction
our office is moving in, the Clerk’s website has been updated and has a fresh new
look. In addition to being easier to navigate, we have also added links for resources
that are beneficial to the public and attorneys alike. Please visit our website at
www.co.thurston.wa.us/clerk to see all that it has to offer.
Purchase Court Documents Online: Our website also provides a link for the purchase
of non-confidential court documents online. Before you proceed please print off the user
manual and read its contents to ensure a successful purchase.
Search Court Cases: A link to the state’s website where you can search case records by
name, business, or case number; you can also access the case docket to check the status
of the case and recent filings which are updated daily. I want to encourage you to visit
the website and take a look at what is available and may be useful to you.
Our office receives a great number of telephone calls to simply obtain a case number or
to check the status of a case. The state’s website allows you to obtain that information
with the click of a button. This will free up Clerk’s Office staff and will prevent callers
from having to wait on hold during busy office hours.
NEWSWORTHY REMINDERS:
Faulty Document Policy: Among the array of errors, our office continues to get
inundated with documents that have incorrect case numbers and that have mistakenly
been filed with our office instead of the correct county. We are now returning documents
unfiled (as opposed to correcting the error and filing the document) to those who have not
responded to the policy. I suspect that the majority of the errors come from a document
being “re-used,” but the case name and/or number fail to get changed. This is a very
preventable error that causes a lot of work for all involved. I want to urge attorneys,
paralegals, assistants, etc., to please double check the case caption and case number
before sending documents for filing.
Domestic Violence Orders: Our office needs to receive paperwork regarding initial DV
orders by 11:30 in order to have sufficient time to prepare the file and accompanying
orders for presentation at 1:30. We would ask that only emergency requests be heard
at 4:00. Again, the petitioner would need to arrive early in order to ensure that they
have completed all of the proper paperwork. It can take approximately 45 minutes for a
petitioner to complete the necessary steps.
We recently had an instance where an individual was instructed by their attorney to
appear at 4:00 to obtain an order. They did not know, however, that they would need to
arrive early in order to complete all of the necessary paperwork. This individual then had
to frantically try to complete the paperwork in time for the matter to be presented to a
judicial officer.
Our office understands the importance of these presentation times and the resulting orders
for the people seeking them. We can all assist in making these stressful times a little
easier by informing the public of the proper process, which would allow them ample time
to complete and review paperwork, ask questions, and to feel confident in their requests
of the court.
Thank you for assistance in helping the citizens of Thurston County with access to the
judicial process by working with the Clerk’s Office to meet their needs and meet the
court’s time frame. Have a very happy and successful New Year and I look forward to
continuing to work together to provide the service you need.
Betty J. Gould
THURSTON COUNTY CLERK