Finishing what Aaron Swartz started with PACER

Re:Finishing what Aaron Swartz started with PACER by DannyBee on Tuesday January 22, 2013 @04:23PM (#5099680)

"There are legitimate complaints about access to case law. While all federal courts that I'm aware of freely post their opinions on their websites (e.g. http://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/recentop/week/recprec.htm), the same isn't true for all state courts"

The part about federal courts is incorrect.

Maybe you meant "all federal appeals courts", which is almost true. However, at the federal district court level, a significant percentage of federal district courts only post opinions through PACER.

Here is a good example, our lovely friends in the eastern district of texas:

http://www.txed.uscourts.gov/page1.shtml?location=attorney

" Judicial Opinions The E-Government Act of 2002 requires that the court provide access to the substance of all written opinions issued by the court, regardless of whether such opinions are to be published in the official court reporter, in a text searchable format.Written Opinions are now searchable and available at no cost to CM/ECF and PACER users."

There is no other option

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Re:Finishing what Aaron Swartz started with PACER by rayiner on Tuesday January 22, 2013 @04:28PM (#5099709)

Okay, some courts post through PACER, but the opinions are still free, both "as in speech" and "as in beer."

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Re:Finishing what Aaron Swartz started with PACER by DannyBee on Tuesday January 22, 2013 @06:02PM (#5100205)

No, they aren't free "as in beer". They are still subject to the normal PACER charges.

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Re:Finishing what Aaron Swartz started with PACER by rayiner on Tuesday January 22, 2013 @06:19PM (#5100287)

What "normal PACER charges?" PACER only charges per page viewed and per search. Creating a PACER account is free. The system seems to be set up so you can search written opinions and view the results for free: http://cincinnatilaw.blogspot.com/2006/02/federal-district-c.... Charges are only incurred if you search by docket, etc.

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Re:Finishing what Aaron Swartz started with PACER by DannyBee on Tuesday January 22, 2013 @07:59PM (#5100716)

Depending on the version you get, and which district court, you will get charged per page for viewing opinions.

You've pointed out one particular district court that seems to have upgraded to solve that problem. Not all have.

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