EFF and other civil-society groups are supporting the Open Courts Act of 2026, a U.S. bill that would make federal court records free to access and replace the aging PACER and CM/ECF systems. The proposal is framed as both an access and security measure: it would create a unified platform for court filings, remove PACER paywalls, and update legacy judiciary technology that supporters say needs stronger cybersecurity and lower long-term operating costs.
Why it matters: This matters to the public, journalists, lawyers, and watchdog groups because it would reduce barriers to court transparency while also upgrading old federal court technology. If the bill advances, defenders and policy watchers should track how the judiciary handles cybersecurity requirements in the replacement system.
Joe Mullin
2026.06.18
100% relevant
This article establishes a distinct policy story around the Open Courts Act of 2026 and its proposed security and access changes for federal court records systems.
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