NM court widens access to digital documents

Media, others can view files online at the end of March

Starting March 31, news reporters, attorney office staff and additional law enforcement and social workers will be able to access digital court documents from their home or office computers.

The change from having to take an inperson trip to the courthouse to view files is part of an effort by the New Mexico Supreme Court to open court records to the public.

“Allowing online access to court records will assist members of the press, under their First Amendment rights, in providing information to the public,” the Administrative Office of the Courts spokesman said in a news release.

Full public access hinges on the state’s purchase of $1.25 million redaction software that would keep personal identifying information, like Social Security numbers or birthdays, from public view. The money for this software has yet to be approved by the state Legislature.

Such information will be viewable by media personnel and others allowed access to online documents beginning March 31, but anyone accessing the database must agree not to share or use private information.

The permission for these groups to use the database was granted by the justices in January after hearing public input and officially approved Feb. 20.

Most attorneys and law enforcement agents already have 24-hour online access to the court database. Now, media personnel and a few other groups will have that access to most — but not all — cases.

“The new online system will restrict access to records in certain types of cases, such as juvenile, domestic violence and mental health cases, to protect confidential information and to comply with existing statutes or court orders,” according to the news release.

Others who now qualify for access include attorney staff supervised by attorneys; out-of-state attorneys admitted by the New Mexico Supreme Court on a specific case; “justice partners” in law enforcement, corrections, compliance programs, federal and municipal judges and court staff, and any state or federal agency involved in adult, family or child welfare. Individuals who represent themselves also will be granted access to their online file.

Media personnel, or press, is defined as “any person who regularly gathers, prepares, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports or publishes news or information about matters of public interest in any medium and who successfully applies to participate in online access and agrees to comply with all court rules.”

An application and other information can be found online at nmcourts.gov/public-access-help.aspx.