ELECTRONIC CASE FILE (eCF) SYSTEM

Pro se Plaintiff should be able to file pleadings directly via electronic Case File (eCF) system—once the Complaint is docketed with the federal district court civil case number. You must request court’s permission to be able to file via eCF.

U.S. Court’s eCF system is linked with Public Access to Court’s Electronic Records (PACER.gov). You must register with PACER in order to access Court’s eCF system.

Once you are registered with PACER (with a user name and password and a small annual fee), you can look up any court cases in the USA, including your own. You can also look up cases filed at U. S. Court of Appeals in any Circuit, including the federal Circuit. U. S. Supreme Court is not yet on board with eCF system.

Having a PACER account does not mean that you can file pleadings electronically to the Court. You need Court’s permission to do so, in addition to having a PACER account. Go to Store for a sample to purchase for a form to submit to the Court seeking permission to file pleadings via eCF.

As long as pro se Plaintiff is registered with PACER.gov and has the user name and the password, he or she should be able to file pleadings to the U.S. District Court via eCF. Seek Court’s permission to be able to do so.

The file date is the date on which the pleading is received by the Court. Given this, the ability to file electronically, via eCF, is convenient and useful.

Submission via eCF is done in PDF.