In August, the Court completed a system upgrade to version 3.3.3 of CM/ECF. The upgrade addressed database issues and enhanced the conflict-checking module so that it checks for conflicts of interest between an attorney and a judge each time the attorney files a document. The Court also completed firmware updates to its CM/ECF servers. The new firmware resolved a number of bugs including a serious bug that would have caused data corruption.
Spearheaded by Chief Judge Zurzolo, in 2010 the Clerk's Office began to actively enforce the Court's mandatory electronic filing requirement, under General Order 96-03 and Local Bankruptcy Rule 5005-4. Chief Judge Zurzolo worked closely with the Clerk's Office to put a process in place that relies upon automated reports generated by the Clerk's Office to identify non complying attorneys. The Clerk's Office then sends letters to the attorneys, notifying them of their need to achieve compliance by completing CM/ECF training and becoming registered to use CM/ECF. If an attorney continues not to comply following this warning period, the Clerk's Office sets an Order to Show Cause hearing for the attorney that is heard by the Chief Judge.
In February, the Clerk's Office sent notices to approximately 150 attorneys who were not in compliance to advise that they would be subject to an Order to Show Cause if they failed to obtain their CM/ECF password by April 15, 2010. OSC hearings were held in July on 90 attorneys who failed to comply, and many received monetary sanctions up to $50 per document filed manually at the intake window, or were barred from practice in the Central District until they received their CM/ECF password.
The enforcement of mandatory electronic filing significantly increased the number of CM/ECF users and reduced the workload for the Clerk's Office. Since fewer attorneys need to file documents at the intake window, Case Initiation has had more time and resources to serve pro se parties.
On July 19, the Central District implemented the Reduced Paper Module (RPM) feature in CM/ECF. The Reduced Paper Module has saved the judiciary an estimated $367,000 by reducing redundant paper notices sent through the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC). The implementation of RPM eliminated the practice of mailing registered CM/ECF users a paper copy of a notice or order entered on a case docket from the BNC. CM/ECF users now only receive an emailed Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) with a link granting them free one-time viewing access of the document. However, registered users still receive a mailed copy of the "Notice of the First Meeting of Creditors" (Section 341 Meeting Notice). This notice will continue to be mailed from the BNC to maintain the confidentiality of debtors' social security numbers.
On April 15, the Court launched version 5.1.3 of the Court's electronic calendaring system. CIAO! was enhanced to allow Court staff to send automated email notifications to the uploading party upon rejection of an order. This function benefits both Court users and the Bar, because staff members no longer need to personally contact the party, and attorneys no longer need to wait for individual notification from the Court. Once an order is rejected, the uploading party will only have the option to "Add New Order." The party cannot reply to the email nor replace the rejected order.
A second new feature in CIAO! allows CM/ECF users to upload PDF exhibits or attachments, such as documents that must be scanned and signature pages from a party other than the uploading party, along with their electronic orders. Prior to this, attorneys would have had to file orders with an exhibit or attachment at the intake window or by mail.
The final enhancement allows Clerk's Office staff to update the CM Hearing Type function directly in CIAO! This feature ensures accurate judicial reporting to the AO when a hearing type needs to be altered at the time of the hearing.
In 2010, the Central District purchased and deployed 204 new computers and 163 replacement printers for its staff. The major hardware rollout was part of the Court's effort to equip and enable its employees. The Court spent approximately $456,000 on total upgrades.
In October, GSA issued an order to proceed on the construction of the first floor videoconference room in the Riverside Division. The addition is scheduled for completion in January 2011. This will be the second videoconference room, as the first room began construction in 2009 and was completed in 2010. Both videoconference rooms will be used by the new Santa Ana judges to hear Riverside cases remotely.
The Clerk's Office improved the quality of sound and video in the Riverside Division videoconference room to alleviate issues with garbled audio and freezing video. The IT staff collaborated with phone companies and the sound system vendor to optimize settings. Judge Donovan and Judge E. Carroll of the Los Angeles Division used the videoconference room to hear a portion of newly filed Riverside Division bankruptcy cases.
In 2010, the sound systems were upgraded in all courtrooms in the Los Angeles, Northern, San Fernando Valley, and Santa Ana Divisions. The courtroom analog sound systems were replaced with systems with digital signal processing, which have higher audio fidelity and are easier to maintain. The Riverside Division courtrooms are currently running a newer version of the analog system and will not need to upgrade to the digital system.