The folks with the Greene County Circuit Clerk’s Office are working to educate everyone and anyone who accesses or files court documents about the changes happening to Case.net, Missouri's online system for court dockets.
Case.net is a web-based search portal that lets people find real-time public information about Missouri court cases. According to Case.net, it’s designed to balance access to public information with the need to protect confidential information.
The Supreme Court of Missouri approved giving the public increased access to court documents from personal electronic devices in 2022. The rule changes went into effect on July 1.
Currently, people must use the computers at the Greene County Judicial Courts Facility to access court documents. Beginning Oct. 22, anyone can access documents filed after July 1, 2023, from their home computers and phones.
Greene County Circuit Clerk Bryan Feemster said his staff has been working with law enforcement groups, attorneys and anyone planning to represent themselves to make sure everyone understands the importance of keeping unnecessary confidential information out of public documents. If the confidential information is necessary, it should be redacted.
“That means there’s extra work required as a result of that in a number of different areas,” Feemster said. “For example, attorneys are having to redact, where in the past maybe they didn’t have to redact, which means they’ve got to prepare the original document. And then they’re going to prepare a redacted document.”
The redacted document will be accessible to the public, he explained, and the original unredacted document will be used by the courts.
“The purpose of all this is to provide the public with information and access to the court system and how it operates,” Feemster said. “But at the same time, we need to be sure that we protect confidential information.”
People who represent themselves — pro se litigants — are also subject to these rules, Feemster said.
“It’s their responsibility to redact this information,” he said. “Our advice would be for them to go to this site (https://courts.mo.gov) and read it very carefully before filing anything.”
What is confidential information in court documents?
The Missouri court rules list some examples of information that may be confidential. These examples include, but are not limited to:
- Social security numbers;
- Driver’s license numbers;
- State identification numbers;
- Taxpayer identification numbers;
- Passport numbers;
- Financial institution account numbers or passwords;
- Credit or debit card numbers or passwords;
- Personal identification numbers;
- Names, addresses and contact information of: informants, victims, witnesses, or persons protected under restraining or protection orders;
- Dates of birth;
- Names of individuals known to be minors;
- Case numbers of confidential, expunged or sealed records.
Find more examples at courts.mo.gov and click on the “Remote Public Access” banner at the top of the page.
If someone notices their personal information on a viewable court document that they believe is confidential and should be redacted, they can file what’s known as a “motion to correct.”
Feemster said they can file a motion to correct by contacting his office. Once his staff receives that filing, they will immediately raise the security level on the document to where the public can’t see it until the court can consider the motion. The court must consider the motion within 30 days.
Find more information on Greene County Circuit Clerk’s website.
