Less paperwork, Fewer Delays and Improved Efficiency

PHOENIX (March 13, 2024) – A new digital evidence portal, known as Case Center, is revolutionizing the way electronic evidence is handled in Family Department cases. 

Self-represented litigants and attorneys are now able to conveniently submit, manage, share and present evidence in their case from their own cell phone or electronic device. Without having to travel to court, parties can upload videos, audio clips, photos and all other electronic files to an easy-to-use online platform. Case Center, a Thomson Reuters technology product, allows all participants in a case the ability to log in and manage evidence outside of the courtroom. 

“Everyone benefits from Case Center. We went from physical exhibits to virtual cloud storage,” said Judge Ronda Fisk, Family Department Presiding Judge. “Case Center gives all parties immediate and ongoing access to all exhibits from the time the exhibits are uploaded through trial.”  

Case Center grants 24/7 accessibility to the parties and the Court from any Internet-enabled device. Since Case Center was introduced, the court is reducing the amount of paper submitted, improving efficiency for the court and litigants and experiencing fewer delays.  

“In the past, all Family Department cases used paper exhibits.  Parties would have to deliver paper copies to the judge’s office a week before trial, and then also deliver a paper copy to the other parties in the case,” Judge Fisk said. 

By using Case Center, the court streamlined the evidence management process. Courtroom clerks initiate the case in Case Center and then email the participants an “invitation” (or link) that they follow to upload their exhibits. Courtroom clerks spend significantly less time at the start of hearings marking and organizing exhibits and creating exhibit lists.  Also, parties can review, annotate and share documents before court so they are better prepared for hearings.   

“We are receiving kudos from the public,” said Shelby Beard, judicial assistant to Judge David McDowell. “Most of the preliminary work involving exhibits has been done beforehand. The Court and the parties log into Case Center at the start of the hearing, and we are ready to go.” 

During both in-person and virtual hearings, the online platform allows the parties and the court to be more efficient. Attorneys and self-represented litigants can present their evidence or display their presentations with the click of a button. The digital platform also automatically timestamps, organizes and numbers exhibits. Additionally, Case Center performs optical character recognition on all exhibits, which allows any party or judicial officer to search all exhibits for a specific word or phrase.   

Judicial officers also appreciate having access to exhibits before, during and after a hearing.  They can rule on preliminary motions about whether exhibits should be allowed, follow along during a hearing and quickly access exhibits after a hearing to write their rulings. 

Since Case Center was introduced, the Family Department has run various pilot programs and incorporated feedback from its users to maximize its effectiveness.  

“The pilots allowed us to see how Case Center worked and solicit feedback from our stakeholders, including judicial officers, court staff, litigants, lawyers and the clerk of court,” Judge Fisk said. “Through the pilots, we were able to identify necessary technology improvements in the courtrooms and develop procedures for self-represented litigants to submit exhibits, which included the addition of scanners and support materials at the Law Library Resource Centers.” 

As for now, the Family Department is furthest along in the implementation of Case Center. Since the Family Department began piloting Case Center in August 2022, evidence has been submitted through the online portal for 60% of hearings in which Case Center was available. As of April 1, 2024, attorneys will be required to use Case Center and self-represented litigants will have the option to use it.  

In 2021, the Arizona Supreme Court approved the use of the digital evidence portal for use in all Arizona Superior Court and Limited Jurisdiction Court locations. One year later, Presiding Judge Joseph Welty authorized the Family Department begin piloting the use of Case Center.   

For more information on Case Center, please visit: https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/court-resources/case-center/