What is Happening in IT at the AOPC?

The AOPC’s Judicial Automation Department is responsible for developing and maintaining case management and other software applications for the Unified Judicial System’s courts and administrative staff. The department also provides general technology support to the Supreme Court justices, their staff members, and the administrative court staff in Pennsylvania. Highlights of several important projects undertaken by this department are described below.

Common Pleas Case Management System (CPCMS)

CPCMS, a statewide case management system that includes docketing, accounting and other important case management functions, was designed for use by clerks of courts, members of court administration, and judges and their staff. The system produces over 400 forms and reports, including master account reports. It provides a facility to export report data from the system to other applications such as Excel and Access in order to customize the presentation of information.

The system also facilitates sharing of criminal case information statewide, such as bail and warrant information. It uses a data hub to transmit information to and from other state agencies, and employs the Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) as a data transportation mechanism to provide information to other criminal justice agencies.

As a complement to CPCMS, the AOPC developed a website to provide both public and secure web docket sheets. The response to these documents has been overwhelmingly positive, with 350,000 hits registered in 2004. The secure docket sheets are made available to county court and related criminal justice personnel, as well as to the law enforcement community through JNET.

Pennsylvania Appellate Court Case Management System (PACMS)

PACMS is an integrated case management system designed for use by Pennsylvania’s appellate courts – Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth. An interface allows the filing offices of each court to create new cases based upon the data stored from Common Pleas criminal cases, eliminating the need for redundant data entry. In addition, PACMS information can be electronically transmitted to CPCMS.

The Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiner’s Bar Exam Applicant Registry (BEAR) has been developed and is maintained by PACMS staff. Data from the Board’s system can be transferred into PACMS, eliminating the need to reenter data for bar applicants. Additionally, the creation of a web-based system allows individuals to complete and submit applications electronically.

PACMS staff developed an enhanced local rules website to provide expanded search capability. The site was released using the newly required civil local rules to populate the system. Most counties have posted their local rules on the site, and discussions continue on plans to expand usage.

Administrative Support Application Project (ASAP)

ASAP, a software application developed in-house, supports the administrative functions of the appellate courts, AOPC and First Judicial District. The system includes payroll, human resources and finance modules. The “AOPC Connected” website provides employee online services including the quarterly newsletter, emergency contact information, and payroll related forms and links.

Magisterial District Judge System (MDJS)

The Magisterial District Judge System provides case management and accounting functions to all magisterial district judges and staff statewide - approximately 3500 users. The system has been in operation since 1992 and generates all forms needed for civil, criminal and traffic case processing.

Recently, the MDJS staff centralized the maintenance of case participant information, to include arresting agencies, counties and municipalities. This effort eliminated many instances of duplicate and/or incorrect data and facilitated more efficient case management.

Web Development

The Web Development group at AOPC has developed a Medical Malpractice webpage designed to provide a “one stop” resource of judicial medical malpractice information. And as a result of work being performed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Judicial Council Subcommittee on Judicial Security, an incident reporting system for magisterial district judges has been developed.

Systems Support

AOPC systems support staff maintain hardware and telecommunications systems required for various AOPC case management systems and office automation functions.