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Describe the solution you'd like

This would allow using PACER to study the courts with much broader data, as well as open doors to all sorts of new features that could be created by the OSS / Free Software community

Describe the solution you'd like
Most courts have RSS feeds for new filings, which allow users to create scripts to monitor for new filings. Some courts do not, and some uses of RSS may differ.

Additional context
See attached analysis of which courts offer what.

pacer_rss_feeds.txt

Describe the solution you'd like
This is currently possible court by court.

Describe the solution you'd like

Several judges in the Southern District of New York do not treat as filed documents like pre-motion letters to the court, or have "bundling rules" whereby a motion is only filed on the docket once it is fully briefed by both sides. This substantially reduces the information the public has about the progress of extremely high-profile cases.

Describe the solution you'd like

CAND, CASD, CACD, WAWD provide ECF accounts to non-attorney users, allowing users to get email alerts for new filings. The ability to get alerts will reduce any strain caused by people or scripts checking dockets for new filings

Describe the solution you'd like

Many states require exhibits to be electronically filed so they are easily accessible to the public (see NYSCEF). The federal system should too.

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E.g., for surveillance matters (e.g. sw for search warrant, pt for pen/trap, etc.). Quit lumping them all under mj or whatever.

Describe the solution you'd like
Unknown to most is that there is a developer email list where occasional emails are sent. It's unknown because it's not mentioned on any website. Put it on a website somewhere.

Also unknown to most is that there is API documentation for the few APIs that exist. This should be posted somewhere too.

Access to public records is an inherent right in a functioning democracy.

Describe the solution you'd like
Start working with the public so we don't have to write our requests in an issue tracker managed by a non-profit. Make an official issue tracker where people can file bugs or requests for enhancements.

Start publishing a more detailed roadmap.

Describe the solution you'd like
Right now you can sort of do the opposite, but going from district to appellate is difficult.

Describe the solution you'd like

In many courts, diversity jurisdiction cases have virtually useless case type coding that prevents accurate searching and analysis.

Describe the solution you'd like

This used to be required, and the abandonment of this requirement has reduced the availability of judicial records on issues of public concern, preventing regulators from discovering problems and preventing full public discussion.

Describe the solution you'd like

Excessive sealing prevents documents of public concern from being available to the public. Many courts fail to comply with existing caselaw requiring heightened standards to seal records, and only rarely is there anyone who will challenge these decisions (E.g., Epstein case).

Describe the solution you'd like

Courts often have idiosyncratic case type identifiers, preventing accurate comparisons between courts.

Describe the solution you'd like
Two factor authentication greatly enhances the security of any system that uses it.

Describe the solution you'd like
This will allow users to safely share their credentials with innovative startups.

Describe the solution you'd like

NYSCEF has this functionality and it reduces the risk of late night filing problems on filings with large numbers of attachments

Describe the solution you'd like

Improves ability to find and analyze cases.

Describe the solution you'd like

Fix the obvious problems like partial case names and absent judge names. Actually seek feedback about these and make an effort to make them good.

Describe the solution you'd like
It's available in the FJC Integrated Database? Why not on the docket?

Describe the solution you'd like

Currently clerks have to check a box to mark things as orders/opinions, and they do so haphazardly. Just make it the default for that type of user.

Additional context
See Free Law Project analysis here: https://free.law/pacer-facts/#Written

Describe the solution you'd like

Just let attorneys get their documents for free more than once. No need to be miserly.

Describe the solution you'd like
Instead, help these companies and the firms that rely on them capture the PDFs securely.

Additional context
Several courts have begun banning this incredibly useful technique.

Describe the solution you'd like
Judges have created a policy that their information should not be shared in bulk. This just means developers have to be creative about how they get the same information in bulk. It's a needless hindrance and should be revoked.

Additional context
See details here: https://free.law/idb-facts/#why-are-the-judge-fields-deliberately-bl

This also affects #25

Describe the solution you'd like
Paying more than a few dollars for a single search is wrong and shouldn't be possible.

Describe the solution you'd like
Currently RSS feeds have one or two word document descriptions like "Motion" or "Order". They should instead have the full description of the docket entry.

Describe the solution you'd like
Presumably giving the court a virus accidentally or deliberately would be bad?

Describe the solution you'd like
Similar to the kiosks in the courts, provide kiosks in prisons.

Describe the solution you'd like

10MB limits result in many split documents, which makes public access harder. NYSCEF has 100MB limits.

Additional context
The largest document in the RECAP Archive is more than 100MB: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6331688/28/7/simone-v-brennan/

Describe the solution you'd like

Vastly improves usefulness to researchers and attorneys.

Additional context

This was required by the e-govt act, but the AO has interpreted this to mean that you can search for dockets by name.

Describe the solution you'd like
There are many user reports of accounts getting sent to collections without sufficient notification.

Additional context
There must be a better, less draconian way here, though it's likely this is the easiest solution for Camber Corporation

Describe the solution you'd like
So that interested members of the public don't have to puzzle over long & obtuse document titles

Describe the solution you'd like
Allow the public to understand it and to help improve it. For public infrastructure, this should be the default. There are numerous statements by national security offices supporting this as a secure approach, that I can provide.

Describe the solution you'd like
Possibly doing this by judge or disposition or other types of trends would be great.

https://twitter.com/AJVicens/status/1232463375684124673

Describe the solution you'd like

Like any government program, credits and debits should be public, and it shouldn't take a lawsuit to get even the most basic analysis of how the revenue generated is spent

Done properly, this should also make all GAO/CBO studies on the true cost of PACER public.

Describe the solution you'd like
Cases often span multiple natures of suit, but at present only one can be selected. This hampers innovation and research. Allow multiple NOS codes on a docket.

Additional context
See #13 for a similar request.

Describe the solution you'd like

Currently, when you lookup a case, you get some information for free, including the last day something was filed in the case. If it also told you the last day something was modified, it would be helpful as we wouldn’t need to incur pacer fees just to see that nothing happened.

Describe the solution you'd like
Searching is where you can accidentally incur massive charges and furthermore hampering basic search prevents PACER being used for explorative research.

Describe the solution you'd like
This was contemplated in 2010, but apparently never went anywhere.

Additional context
See details here: https://free.law/pdf/N1-021-10-2.pdf

Describe the solution you'd like
Start with dockets, then proceed to PDFs and other reports. If most revenue comes from bots, you can at least make tools for bots.

This is one of the requirements of the e-govt act.

Describe the solution you'd like
Currently the PACER system is broken across hundreds of servers, each with their on infrastructure, customizations, and maintenance team. This is a terrible architecture for many reasons. PACER should be rearchitected to be centralized and use modern cloud-based systems.

Additional context
This could save millions of dollars every year.

Describe the solution you'd like
This could make it much less likely to accidentally incur charges

Describe the solution you'd like
Makes it much easier to find the actual motions that you care about when reviewing a docket

Describe the solution you'd like
For example, attorney/judge reports

Additional context
https://twitter.com/Riana_Crypto/status/1232811728687095809

Describe the solution you'd like

Duplication of digital files should not incur duplicative costs, particularly for journalists and researchers that don't have high legal budgets. Furthermore, RECAP and similar tools further PACER's mission of providing access to court records.

Describe the solution you'd like

This avoids excessive paper burdens on clerks' offices, keeps filing deadlines uniform between sealed and unsealed filings, and facilitates easier unsealing if a motion to seal is denied.

Describe the solution you'd like
This will make it possible to verify PACER documents as original and untampered.