[20220201]LSB10672_影响公众获取法院电子记录（PACER）的立法和司法发展.pdf

CRS Legal Sidebar Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i Legislative and Judicial Developments Affecting Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) Updated February 1, 2022 The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system is the U.S. Courts web-based service that gives registered users electronic access to documents filed in the U.S. Courts via the online Case Management/Electronic Case Files system, known as CM/ECF. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (the “AO”), the federal judicial entity responsible for maintaining PACER, currently charges users ten cents per PACER search as well as 10 cents per page accessed using the system (with a ceiling of $3 per document). The judiciary waives fees on accounts incurring $30 or less in any given quarter. With most users not exceeding this $30 threshold, 25% of PACER users reportedly pay fees in a given quarter. Individuals or groups may prospectively petition for a fee exemption to conduct their PACER searches for specified research projects. This Legal Sidebar discusses recent legislative proposals and litigation that may affect the cost of public access to PACER.