New courthouse kiosks improve public access across NC

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — For decades, public access computers in North Carolina’s county courthouses have been archaic.  The outdated system only allows you to look at court records. Almost anything else requires help from a clerk. But now new kiosks have changed that.

Sarvani Jami and Marjorie Morris with the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts demonstrated the freshly installed kiosks at the Wake County Courthouse. The devices provide the public on-site access to search court dates and case events, file documents electronically, make payments, and use a scanner, printer and other services.

“Most of our records are public record. You don’t have to have any special credentials, it’s not restricted, if it is public record by statute, it is available through the portal, said Morris.

Attorneys can use the kiosks to cut their wait time and to quickly add any new documentation for an upcoming court hearing.

“They will just scan in the documents and upload the documents to submit as an electronic filing,” said Jami.

It’s also a choice for people involved in child protection cases and victims of domestic violence who don’t feel safe at home.

“When you’re talking about your children, you’re talking about custody, it can be domestic violence, it could be highly emotional. So trying to get through that paperwork can be overwhelming and so this is just one more way and one more tool hopefully to assist people in handling their business, getting in front of a judge and getting the help that they need,” said Wake County District Court Judge Ashleigh Parker.

Two kiosks have been added to the legal support across the street in the old county courthouse.

“That’s just one more way that we’re trying to reach the people so that when they get down here their business is actually going to be able to be handled and not a back and forth, go here and go there,” said Judge Parker.

In the twenty-seven counties that have launched the eCourts computer software system, people can access court records anywhere they have access to the internet. Judge Parker said the ability to allow equal access and people on staff to help guide you through the process is important.

“Sometimes it can be simple as service wasn’t effectuated, something wasn’t notarized properly, or maybe there are some forms and paperwork that they need to access and look at,” said Parker.

So far around 20 kiosks have been installed in the original eCourts pilot counties which include courthouses in Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Mecklenburg, and Wake counties.

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