The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia today announced a new online system to search and access circuit court records in all 55 counties will go live and be available to the public beginning March 10.
The West Virginia Public Access Search System, or WVPASS, will provide online access to all publicly available circuit court documents dating back to 1999. Registration to use the new system is free to the user and documents can be downloaded for a small charge.
“The Court is proud to announce the launch of this long-awaited system that will bring county circuit court records into the digital age,” said Chief Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton. “This launch is the culmination of an extended, monumental effort on the part of the Supreme Court’s Administrative Office, our outside vendor and staff from all 55 county courthouses. Online access to court records is an essential public service, and I want to thank all parties involved for their commitment to making this a reality.”
Access to the new system will be available on the Court’s website, www.courtswv.gov.
This online circuit courts record system follows last year’s launch of the Court’s Magistrate Case Record System, which is currently available on the Court’s website. An additional records system for the appellate case level is also anticipated in the near future.
“The WVPASS circuit courts records search system demonstrates our Court’s commitment to make West Virginia’s judicial system as transparent and accessible to the public as possible,” said Justice C. Haley Bunn, who has taken the lead on the project for the Court in recent years. “Beginning next month, our citizens will be able to search and download public civil and criminal case information dating back to the turn of the century from the convenience of their computer or mobile device – bypassing the need to go to a courthouse and search for records in person.”
The WVPASS search function will be free for registered users. There will be a 25-cent-per-page charge plus a nominal credit/debit card processing fee for regular public users to download documents. Attorneys will be able to use the new system to access and download files for cases in which they are counsel of record for free.
The new system will provide access to publicly available criminal and civil case files; filings made under seal and juvenile cases will not be available.
The Supreme Court contracted with i3 Verticals to allow access to public circuit court records.
