U.S. Supreme Court to Adopt Electronic Case Filing System

Chief Justice John Roberts says the Supreme Court will belatedly adopt an electronic filing system similar to those used in most courts around the country.

Roberts says in his annual end-of-year report Wednesday that the court’s new system may be in use as early as 2016, although parties in the court’s cases will continue to be required to submit up to 40 paper copies of every brief for some time.

Roberts is using his 10th report as chief justice to explain that courts often embrace new technology cautiously because of their role as arbiters of a justice system that must be open to all, regardless of wealth or technological savvy.

The chief justice’s report on information technology did not mention cameras, which are barred from the court’s proceedings.