Rule 4 Means of Access

(a) Physical Case Records. Public access to physical case records is provided by request to the custodian in the court or office where the record was filed. If the record is in the Vermont State Archives, public access is provided by request to that agency.

(b) Electronic Case Records. Public access to electronic case records is provided for individual cases at display terminals located in courthouses and Judiciary offices as determined by the Court Administrator.

(1) Public Access Locations. Each unit that has electronic filing will have at least one public access location. The terminals will provide access to all publicly accessible case records of all courts and adjudicative bodies irrespective of the venue of the proceeding.

(2) Remote Access. Remote access may be provided by the Court Administrator to publicly accessible case records in cases from the civil and environmental divisions, the judicial bureau, and judiciary adjudicative bodies other than courts. Remote access may also be provided to publicly accessible case records in cases in the Supreme Court. Remote access may not be provided to records of the criminal, family, or probate divisions, except as authorized by statute.

(c) Administrative Records. The Court Administrator will determine the means of access to judicial-branch paper and electronic administrative records.