Attorneys are encouraged to scrutinize how technology providers protect confidential information and are warned regarding the use of third-party services to access federal court dockets as some of service providers may store or link CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) credentials on their software platforms. As a result, CM/ECF filers should be aware of the potential to inadvertently provide vendors or others with access to confidential restricted/sealed documents when using third-party services or software by sharing their CM/ECF or PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) credentials.

 

CM/ECF filers are urged to use caution in their computer security practices ensuring that sealed/restricted documents to which they have access are not disclosed. Such disclosure may constitute a violation of confidentiality or other obligations since a third-party service might resell or republish case documents or information obtained through shared CM/ECF or PACER access.

 

Likewise, fee-exempt users should not share documents obtained from PACER under the exemption. Such exemptions apply only for limited purposes and any transfer of data obtained as a result of a fee exemption is prohibited unless expressly authorized by the court.

 

A copy of this Notice and will be posted at the Attorneys’ Lounge and will be notified to all members of the Bar of this Court via mass email.

 

 

BY ORDER OF THE COURT.

 

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 11th day of July 2023.

 

 

ADA I. GARCIA-RIVERA, ESQ. CPA

CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT

 

To access a PDF version of this document, click on the following URL link Notice from the Clerk 23-06: Warning Regarding Sharing of CM/ECF o PACER Credentials with Third-Party Service Providers