Working in Non-public Cases

Some cases, such as adoption and personal protection matters, are sensitive in nature, and public access to case information is restricted to select case participants.

In such cases, the information displayed and options available on the Case Search page, Case Details page, Bundle Assembly page, and the History page are controlled by the filer's role in the case. The impact for each page is shown below for courts that are configured for Party Management and for courts that are and are not configured to use Verified / Standard case contacts.

A user will have visibility into a non-public case if a connected user is a counsel on the case. Thus, an attorney's staff can view the non-public case and serve documents when submitting on behalf of the attorney. 

In All Courts

Favorites Page

When a non-public case is selected as a Favorite, the case title will display as [NON-PUBLIC CASE] on the Favorites page, irrespective of whether the user is a case contact or case participant.

In Courts Configured to use Party Management

Case Search Page

To locate a non-public case via search, the complete case number must be input on the Case Search page.

If the filer IS NOT a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• The filer must input the complete case number on the Case Search page.
• The case title in the search results is listed as [NON-PUBLIC CASE].

Click herehere to view a sample page.

If the filer IS a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• The filer must input the complete case number on the Case Search page.
• The search results display the full case title.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

Case Details Page

If the filer IS NOT a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• The case title displays as [NON-PUBLIC CASE].
• Case participants (Case Party and Case Counsel) are not listed.
• The Add Party to Case button (as configured by the court) is visible; the Add Counsel to Case button may be visible. (The court determines if a user may add themselves as counsel to a non-public case.)
• The File to this Case button is visible, and the filer can submit a filing bundle to the court.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

If the filer IS a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• The full case title is displayed.
• The Add Party to Case button and the Add Counsel to Case button (as configured by the court) are visible.
• Available case participants are listed in the Case Parties and Counsel sections.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

Bundle Assembly Page

If the filer IS NOT a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• The case title displays as [NON-PUBLIC CASE].
• The Add Party to Case button (as configured by the court) is visible; the Add Counsel to Case button may be visible. (The court determines if a user may add themselves as counsel to a non-public case.)
• Case participants (Case Party and Case Counsel) are not listed.
• The filer can file into the case but cannot serve the submitted filings.
• The Serve Document checkbox is disabled. As a result, the Select Recipients section is not displayed.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

 

If the filer IS a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• The full case title is displayed.
• The Add Party to Case button and the Add Counsel to Case button are visible.
• Available case participants are listed in the Case Parties and Counsel sections.
• The Serve Document option is enabled.
• The Select Recipients section is displayed based on the rules configured for the court.
• The Send Courtesy Copy button is disabled to prevent unauthorized persons from receiving information about the case.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

History Page

Regardless of whether the filer is or is not a participant (case party or case counsel) on a non-public case:

• Any filings the filer has submitted into the case are listed on the History page.
• The case title shown on the Properties tab is [NON-PUBLIC CASE].
• If the filer is connected to someone that filed to the non-public case, the filing / bundle will not be listed on the History page under My Network's History.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

Notification Emails

In all notification emails sent regarding a non-public case, the case title listed in the email will be [NON-PUBLIC CASE], regardless of whether the recipient is or is not a participant (case party or case counsel).

 

Courts Configured to use Verified / Standard Contacts

These courts are configured to use Verified / non-Verified (Standard) contacts.

Case Search Page

To locate a non-public case via search, the complete case number must be input on the Case Search page.

If the filer IS NOT a Verified contact (filer is a Standard contact or not on the case) on a non-public case:

• The filer must input the complete case number on the Case Search page.
• The search results display the full case title.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

If the filer IS a Verified contact on a non-public case:

• The filer must input the complete case number on the Case Search page.
• The search results display the full case title.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

Case Details Page

If the filer IS NOT a Verified contact (Standard contact or not on the case on a non-public case):

• The full case title is on the Case Details page.
• The Case Contacts section is not visible.
• All buttons configured for the court are visible.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

If the filer IS a Verified contact on a non-public case:

• The full case title is displayed.
• All buttons configured for the court are visible.
• The Case Contacts section is displayed.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

Bundle Assembly Page

If the filer IS NOT a Verified contact (Standard contact or not on the case) on a non-public case:

• The full case title is displayed.
• The filer can file into the case but cannot serve the submitted filings; as such, the Serve Document checkbox is disabled.
• The Service Recipients section is not displayed.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

If the filer IS a Verified contact on a non-public case:

• The full case title is displayed.
• All buttons configured for the court are visible.
• The Serve Document option is enabled.
• The Select Service Recipients section is displayed based on the rules configured for the court.

Click herehere to view a sample page.

Courts Configured only for Standard Contacts (Verified Contacts not Used)

In courts that are NOT configured to use Verified / Standard contacts (results are the same regardless of whether the filer is or is not a case contact):

Case Search Page (Non-public Case)

Click herehere to view a sample page.

• The filer must input the complete case number on the Case Search page.
• The search results display the full case title.

Case Details Page (Non-public Case)

Click herehere to view a sample page.

• The full case title is displayed.
• All buttons configured for the court are visible.
• The Case Contacts section is not displayed.

Bundle Assembly Page (Non-public Case)

Click herehere to view a sample page.

• The full case title is displayed.
• All buttons configured for the court are visible.
• The Serve Document option is disabled; the filer can file but not serve.
• The Select Service Recipients section is not displayed.