Fannin County District Court Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICALCriminal cases

Paper-filable documents generally may be filed electronically, except charging instruments, sealed or in-camera documents, and documents subject to access restrictions.

Any document that can be filed with a court in paper form may be electronically filed with the following exceptions: (1) charging instruments; (2) documents filed under seal or presented to the court in camera; and (3) documents to which access is otherwise restricted by these rules, law, or court order.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Electronic filing must use the Office of Court Administration's electronic filing manager and a service provider certified by that office.

Electronic filing must be done through the electronic filing manager established by the Office of Court Administration and an electronic filing service provider certified by the Office of Court Administration.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A document containing sensitive data in violation of the rules must not be posted on the internet.

Documents that contain sensitive data in violation of these rules must not be posted on the internet.

WARNINGCriminal cases

A criminal-case clerk may implement electronic filing only after obtaining written consent from a majority of the eligible criminal judges served by the clerk.

A clerk may implement criminal case electronic filing in that clerk's office when he or she has the written consent of a majority of the judges in the county who have jurisdiction in criminal cases and who are served by that clerk.

INFOCriminal cases

The clerk may designate an electronically filed or scanned paper document as the official court record and need not retain both versions.

Rule 2.4 Official Record The clerk may designate an electronically filed document or a scanned paper document as the official court record. The clerk is not required to keep both paper and electronic versions of the same document.

INFOCriminal cases

Criminal-case electronic filing is permissive rather than mandatory under the stated rules.

Currently, the rules do not mandate efiling in criminal cases but allow permissive efiling.

INFOCriminal cases

These rules permit electronic filing but do not authorize a mandate that electronic filing be required.

Further, permitting electronic filing should not be construed as authority to mandate electronic filing.

INFOCriminal cases

After criminal-case electronic filing is implemented in a clerk's office, filers may use either the electronic filing system or paper to file and serve documents.

Where criminal case electronic filing has been implemented in a clerk's office, a filer may file and serve documents in a case through the electronic filing system or by paper.

INFOCriminal cases

Once criminal-case electronic filing is implemented, filers may choose electronic filing and service or paper filing and service.

Where criminal case electronic filing has been implemented in a clerk's office, a filer may file and serve documents in a case either through the electronic filing system or by paper.

INFOCriminal cases

A court seal may be applied electronically.

A court seal may be electronic.

INFOCriminal cases

Paper copies are not required when an electronically filed document is submitted, but should be provided if the court requests them.

Rule 2.6 Paper Copies At the time of filing, a filer need not provide paper copies of an electronically filed document. A filer should provide paper copies of electronically filed documents upon request by a court.

INFOCriminal cases

The clerk may send case notices, orders, and other communications to a party electronically.

The clerk may send notices, orders, or other communications about the case to the party electronically.

INFOCriminal cases

Applies to

Order

Judges may electronically sign orders, but electronic signature is not required.

A judge may electronically sign an order by applying his or her electronic signature to the order. Judges are not required to electronically sign orders.