Judicial officials say an online trial court expansion to all 100 North Carolina counties is on track to be completed by next year.
Thirty-eight counties in North Carolina are currently served by eCourts, in regions that include Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro. According to the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC), the remaining counties, which encompass much of the Triad and High Country, will be active by fall of 2025. The North Carolina Business Court will also be part of the transition, completing what officials call a “unified electronic filing system for civil cases” throughout the state.
Under the eCourts system, public kiosks offer access within courthouses for conducting judicial business. The online component allows for round-the-clock access to searching, filing, and making payments, reducing the need for facilities space and resources.
NCAOC Director Ryan Boyce says the transition marks the largest project the branch has engaged in since court unification in the 1960s.
"It, you know, has a technology backbone, but the goal here is to provide anytime access and greater service to people throughout North Carolina by harnessing modern technology and the internet, which everybody's come to expect," says Boyce.
He says over 1 million electronic filings have been processed through the eCourts system since its launch while saving approximately 5 million pieces of paper.