The Trial Court Public Access to Court Records Committee invites interested members of the public to appear before the Committee to provide comments concerning the public's access to publicly available court case records. The hearing will be held on June 15, 2015.

Chief Justice Paula Carey appointed the Committee to develop and propose uniform Trial Court rules governing the public's access to view or copy court case records, including paper and electronic case records, in a courthouse and on the Internet, consistent with current Massachusetts laws, court rules, and appellate court decisions. As soon as the Committee’s drafting process is completed, the proposed rules will be published to afford the public an opportunity to review and submit comments and suggestions about the proposals. The Committee will reevaluate the proposed rules in light of all public comments received, and then present the proposed rules to the Trial Court and the Supreme Judicial Court for their consideration.

The purpose of the public hearing is to receive the views of interested individuals and organizations with regard to issues surrounding the public's access to court case records, including the availability of case records on the Internet. The committee is interested to learn about any topics, problems, suggestions, or positions the public has regarding access to publicly available court records.

The hearing will be held on Monday, June 15, 2015, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., in the Jury Pool Room located on the second floor of the Suffolk County Superior Courthouse, Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108. All persons are welcome to attend the hearing. All those interested in speaking at the hearing should register by Wednesday, June 10, 2015, by email to PublicInfo@sjc.state.ma.us. Prior to the hearing, registrants will receive a time frame for their appearance. Comments should be limited to 10 minutes, and the committee welcomes written submissions separately or to supplement oral comments. Any person unable to attend the hearing but interested in providing comments may do so by email to the Committee's Reporter, joseph.stanton@appct.state.ma.us, or by mail to Joseph Stanton, Clerk, Massachusetts Appeals Court, Room 1200, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108-1705