Burnet County district clerk named in suit over e-filed document access
Courthouse News Service is suing several Texas district clerks, including Burnet County’s Casie Walker, over faster access to electronically filed documents. Staff photo by Elizabeth De Los Santos
A national news service based in California has filed a civil lawsuit against multiple Texas district clerks, including Burnet County’s Casie Walker, over access to electronically filed documents.
Courthouse News Service’s lawsuit claims the clerks are withholding access to newly e-filed civil petitions until paperwork is fully processed by court staff, which the plaintiff says violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by limiting freedom of the press. The suit seeks to implement a system that allows immediate public access to e-filed documents.
“The Burnet County District Clerk’s office meets all statutory and constitutional requirements and is continuing to consult with the office of court administration regarding this lawsuit,” Walker said.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas-Sherman Division, challenges the district clerks’ handling of civil petitions submitted via Texas’ electronic filing system. Currently, these documents are held by the system’s Electronic Filing Manager until court staff review and process them, making them inaccessible to the media and the public.
CNS claims this delay hinders news reporting, as access to court filings is critical for timely coverage.
The news organization advocates for the use of the Press Review Tool, a feature that would provide real-time access to new filings. The district clerk offices in Travis and Dallas counties currently use the feature, but many, including Burnet County do not.
3 thoughts on “Burnet County district clerk named in suit over e-filed document access”
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So now we have to spend our tax dollars defending an indefensible position when we could just give access.
I really want to see this lawsuit. Gotta be frivolous as hell. I have used the e-file system both while sitting on the bench and now as a mediator. I routinely file the Mediated Settlement Agreements myself following a successful mediation and it is available back to me in file-stamped form in way less than 24 hours.
What?! Modernize their computer systems? LOL! Who’s got the budget for that?!