On May 1, 2023, the Supreme Court of Illinois and the state’s five appellate courts will initiate remote, free access to public court documents, a development announced by the high court on Thursday. This initiative mandates the state’s reviewing courts to upload all nonconfidential documents for cases filed from April 1 onward to re:SearchIL, Illinois’s platform for remote public records access.
From May 1, these records will be available to registered users across various groups, including the judiciary, attorneys, clerks, governmental partners, and the public. Additionally, as of the announcement, any fees associated with accessing electronic court records have been suspended. According to the court’s press release, this move aligns with their objective of improving public access to nonconfidential court documents.
Efforts to implement this court order were guided by a working group led by Appellate Justice Eugene Doherty. By initiating public access on May 1, the court aims to verify the documents and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive records. Although individual reviewing courts may opt to offer additional access to documents filed prior to April 1, they are not obliged to under the current mandate.
For more detailed information, you may refer to the announcement on Law.com.