TECHNOLOGY

Clerk’s Office Completes Upgrade to CM/ECF Releases 4.1 and 4.2

The Clerk’s Office upgraded the Court’s CM/ECF system to Release 4.1 over the Columbus Day weekend (October 7-10) and to Release 4.2 on November 27. Some of the key features of CM/ECF Release 4.1 include:

• Increased password security for all users.
• Certificates of notice that display all parties noticed in a case, regardless of the form of notice.
• Tools for sealing records in CM/ECF with access limited to the presiding judge and staff designated by them.
• Compatibility with the national version of Pay.gov, which allows external users to pay fees for multiple transactions at the end of the day. (Previous procedures required payment after each transaction.)

The CM/ECF 4.2 conversion, performed to accommodate the AO’s new Rule 3002.1 requirements, also improved the performance of the new features in Release 4 and added new event codes and official form changes.

Server Modernization Project

In 2011, the Clerk’s Office commenced the Server Modernization Project, which will save the Court money on hardware procurement, energy consumption, and server licenses, as well as improve data backup to support COOP. Currently, each server is used for only one purpose, and a dedicated physical server is required for each application. Server virtualization will allow one physical server to “host” multiple virtual servers, and cut costs over time by reducing the need to purchase new hardware.

The Server Modernization Project will replicate the Los Angeles Division’s virtual server at the AT&T Internet Data Center (or “western gateway”) in San Diego, minimizing both data loss and interruptions to the Court’s operations in a COOP scenario. The projected completion date is 2014.

Mobile Version of LOU/Enhanced Management of LOU Orders

In 2011, the Clerk's Office launched LOU-e (LOU-everywhere), a mobile version of the Court's Lodged Order Upload (LOU) software. LOU-e is a web-based application for mobile devices, such as iPhones, iPads, Blackberries, and Androids, that allows judges to work with orders from any location that has a mobile connection. This capability reduces delays in processing and signing orders when judges are away from the office on court business or for other reasons. The program went live on December 5.

The Court has also developed a series of reports based on the LOU software which measure the elapsed time for the many stages and milestones of processing orders, from date lodged to final entry on the docket. This allows the Court to monitor performance and to identify any delays, either in chambers or in the Clerk’s Office. All judges are provided this feedback regularly so that performance in processing orders can be maximized and elapsed time held to a minimum. As a result of these initiatives, the district as a whole reduced its processing time for orders more than 30 percent.

Clerk’s Office Attends U.S. Probation and Pre-Trial Services National IT Conference

The Clerk’s Office sent five ITD developers to attend the U.S. Probation and Pre-Trial Services National IT Conference, held from January 25 to January 27 in downtown Los Angeles. The judiciary-wide effort to move towards cloud computing was an especially prominent topic at the conference, since moving data into public or private clouds is a cost-saving measure that can also improve system performance. Presentations addressed related topics such as the viability of centralizing CM/ECF servers and the possible security risks of using cloud services.

District-wide Lotus Domino 8.5.2 Server Upgrade

The Court’s Lotus Notes client upgrade was completed on July 30, when the CACB e-mail servers were upgraded to version 8.5.2. The judiciary is upgrading its e-mail software since IBM no longer supports Lotus Notes clients 6.5.4 and 7.0.3. A key feature of 8.5.2 is the Domino Attachment and Object Service (DAOS). This feature saves server disk space, which means that mailboxes will not reach maximum capacity as quickly and their contents will not have to be archived as often. The disk space saved with DAOS may also allow each employee’s mailbox size to be increased in the future.

Court Unveils New Unclaimed Funds Database

On July 13, the Court attained a long-term goal, unveiling a searchable database for unclaimed funds on its website. The searchable database allows creditors and debtors to search for any monies due to them that have been deemed unclaimed or undistributed by the trustee. Instructions on the website tell users how to submit a Motion for the Order Releasing Unclaimed Funds on their own, so that they do not have to retain professional assistance. The Court’s unclaimed funds balance currently sits at approximately $19 million, or about 12 percent of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s nationwide totals for the 6133BK fund.

A dramatic increase in filing of Motions for the Order Releasing Unclaimed Funds followed the appearance of the database. More unclaimed funds motions were filed during the three months that followed the release of the database (85) than were filed during the first half of the calendar year (84).

District-wide Networx Migration

The Court migrated to the Administrative Office’s Networx contract, a telecommunication and procurement program to switch long-distance service providers from Sprint to AT&T. The Court’s DCN network uses these long-distance providers to connect the five sites of the Court’s networks together. AT&T completed new circuits delivery and router equipment installation at each division. Cutover to the new AT&T circuits was completed in August.

Along with telecommunications services the AO provides at the national level, Networx-integrated packages for local dial tone, cellular, and long-distance voice services may give the Court more options in selecting telecommunications service providers and reducing costs.

Minolta Copiers Installation and Training

The Clerk’s Office procured and installed 55 new Minolta copiers throughout the district in October. These new Minolta copiers replaced the Ricoh copiers that have been in use since 2007. In addition to the new features of the Minolta copiers, which include the capability to print and fax from a desktop computer, the new contract is projected to save the Court approximately $100,000 in costs over the next five years. The contract coverage period for the Minoltas extends to the end of FY16, or September 2016.

iPad Offered to Judges

During the second week of August, the Clerk’s Office made the iPad 2 available to judges. Increasingly, judges use Court-issued iPads to assist with a variety of judicial tasks. iPads allow judges to connect to their computers remotely, communicate with Court staff and other judges wirelessly, and generate, read, and annotate essential documents in convenient electronic form. Electronic documents make it particularly easy to locate and research relevant statutes and opinions, and they also save the Court money on printing and shipping costs. The device improves collaboration among judges and coordination with staff by facilitating communication and rapid access to information. Each Court-issued iPad 2 came with a remote desktop client, document viewers for Microsoft Office, PDF, and WordPerfect files, and e-books of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and U.S.C. Titles 11 and 28.

Operating System for iPads and iPhones Upgraded

The Help Desk completed the testing of iOS 5.01, Apple’s mobile operating system, and installed the upgrade for the judges in November and December. The upgrade included the iOS upgrade on the judges’ equipment.

Revised and Improved “Don’t Have an Attorney?” Section Now Available on Court’s Website

The updated “Don’t Have an Attorney?” section of the Court’s website became available on December 14. The section contains essential information on credit counseling/financial management requirements, self-help clinics district-wide, phone numbers for free or low-cost bankruptcy help, and FAQ pages in both English and Spanish. Additionally, debtors can watch videos on how to file a bankruptcy case, what to do after a case is filed, and other general information.

Central District Visits DCN Western Gateway

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) established a third gateway, the “western gateway,” for the dynamic circuit network (DCN) in San Diego in mid-2011. The western gateway is the primary internet gateway for the Ninth Circuit. At this location, AT&T also provides equipment hosting services for courts interested in locating COOP equipment at the Gateway.

On October 12, the Clerk’s Office visited the San Diego gateway center, along with representatives from District Court and Probation and Pretrial Services. During the visit, AT&T provided a tour of the facility and introduced products and services available at the San Diego location.

Court Participates in Judges IT Training Program

The Court sent a team to the Judges IT Training (JIT) “Training for Trainers” (T4T) Program, held in San Diego from August 9 to August 11. Representing the Court were Judge Deborah J. Saltzman, Chief Deputy of Administration Steven Sloniker, Systems Integration Manager Sam Abram, Law Clerk Jeffrey Cozad, and Training Specialist Padraic Keohane. The program demonstrated “how to plan, design, develop, and deliver training and ongoing support to best meet… individual judges’ and chambers’ needs.” The program, produced by the Federal Judicial Center, taught representative teams from federal courts about the new IT curriculum for judges developed by the Information Technology Committee of the Judicial Conference. The new curriculum focuses more on accomplishing judicial tasks and functions than on training in particular applications. JIT T4T attendees also learned about Structured Writing, a method of technical writing that focuses on organizing data in easy-to-find, logically ordered blocks. The program’s emphasis on functionality in training should help judges and their staff use software more efficiently in carrying out their tasks.