What Cases are Excluded or Included in the ECF Program?
Civil Cases From the inception of ECF for California Northern on April 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002, this district restricted the kinds of civil cases in the program and only certain judges participated. On January 1, 2003, the program was expanded to include all judges and all new civil cases with the exception of sealed cases. Criminal Cases As of January 1, 2004, all new non-sealed criminal cases are docketed by the court in the ECF system so the docket is available from ECF, not from PACER. As of February 7, 2005, all new non-sealed criminal cases will be efiled cases. Sealed Cases Sealed Cases, and Sealed Documents within efiling cases, are excluded from the e-filing program and must be filed entirely in paper. Pro se Cases Pro se parties are excluded from the e-filing program and must file entirely in paper, unless otherwise ordered by the assigned Judge. Parties represented by counsel in such cases must file electronically. NOTE: At no time will cases move in or out of the
