On Appeal: A Primer on E-Filing in State Appellate Courts

By Jeffrey N. Williams

Mr. Williams is an attorney at the law firm of Wargo & French LLP and has been certified as a specialist in the field of appellate law by the California State Bar. He is admitted to practice and has significant experience in the California state appellate courts, along with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits. He is available for consultations or referrals and can be contacted at jwilliams@wargofrench.com.

It seems hard to believe, but the concept of electronic filing in the California state courts is nearing its twentieth anniversary.¹!² E-filing was promised to bring the legal profession into the information age, streamline the filing process, and deliver cost savings to clients by cutting out cumbersome printing and delivery logistics associated with paper filing.

However, the roll-out left something to be desired, and even in 2019 many large law firms have opted to hire dedicated filing staff to stay up-to-speed on the patchwork of e-filing systems and practices that have been implemented throughout the superior courts. That is a luxury that a solo or small-firm litigation practice is unlikely to have.