Performance Report- Louisiana Supreme Court

Performance of the Courts of Appeal

Fiscal Year 2015 - 2016

GOAL 3: TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC TRUST

Objective

3.2 To facilitate public access to decisions of the courts of appeal.

Intent of the Objective

The decisions of the courts of appeal are public records. The courts of appeal should make their decisions available promptly to litigants, judges, attorneys, and the public, whether in printed or electronic form. Prompt and easy access to decisions reduces errors in other courts due to misconceptions regarding the position of the courts.

Responses To Objective

Actions taken during FY 2015-2016 to facilitate public access to decisions.

(Hover on the chart for more information and click on the chart to see which courts chose that response.)

Actions taken during FY 2015-2016 to facilitate public access to decisions.

Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective

1st Circuit

The First Circuit maintained a merchant account for the public to use Visa and Mastercard to order copies of court documents via EClerk on the First Circuit website. The court maintained the posting of decisions on writ applications to the court's website. Cases not released on public decision days were issued (via ENotification, web posting, and regular mail) by the Clerk's Office on the same day they were received from the panel.

2nd Circuit

Second Circuit news releases are immediately transmitted to subscribers to the news alert service. In addition, court decisions are provided electronically to three (3) publishing companies.

Response	Response_Court
Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective	2 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit)
Continued to address this objective through the actions indicated below, or implemented the following new actions to address this objective as indicated below:	5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Developed or maintained guidelines for handling sealed records and exhibits	5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Did not address this objective	0
Installed or maintained effective technological means for storing, archiving, and retrieving the court's files and records	5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Kept photocopies and other publication costs at reasonable levels	5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Maintained sufficient staff, especially in the file room, to facilitate public access to opinions	5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)
Promptly issued media releases on opinions and decisions	2 courts (2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit)
Published opinions, rules, etc. on the court's website	5 courts (1st Circuit, 2nd Circuit, 3rd Circuit, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit)