Cherokee County To Pilot Appeals Court E-Filing Program

CANTON, GA -- Cherokee County Clerk of Courts Patty Baker will begin a pilot project with the Georgia Court of Appeals to e-file trial court records.

In the early stages of the pilot program, the initiative will be restricted to only three Superior Court clerks offices. The pilot project is planned to be the basis for a program that will ultimately expand to all Georgia counties, resulting in the savings of tens of thousands of pages of paper documents.

Baker stated she was honored for her office to be one of the Court of Appeals test sites.

“I have always been willing to assist around the state in different initiatives to streamline the court processes, save tax dollars and improve efficiencies in the court," she added.

The project is another step in Baker's quest to move the office into the digital age, which will result in cost savings to county taxpayers.

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Electronic filing will reduce the costs associated with filing case documents, sending trial court records through the mail and storing paper files. It will streamline the work of the trial courts and appellate courts and allow for greater public access to the court record.

“This pilot project will test a new e-filing system, and we are excited to help test a more efficient way of transmitting records between the trial court and the appellate court," Baker said. "The benefits will be felt by parties, litigants, the courts and taxpayers, and will prove to be fiscally sound.”

Steve Castlen, who serves as clerk/administer to the Court of Appeals of Georgia, added the electronic filing of trial court records will "revolutionize" the appellate practice.

"It really is an exciting time for the Georgia appellate courts," he added. "The cost to practitioners will decrease. Appellate judges and their staffs will be able to review cases easier. Georgia appellate courts move cases faster than almost any other state and the implementation of electronic trial court records will just improve on an already impressive processing time for resolving appeals.”

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