Lake County Circuit Clerk rolls out online access to case info - a precursor to e-filing

Clerk of the Circuit Court Keith S. Brin is proud to announce the Public Access System developed by his office has gone live today. They Public Access System can be accessed through the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Website www.lakecountyil.gov/CircuitClerk/Pages/default.aspx or directly at circuitclerk.lakecountyil.gov/publicAccess/jsp/common/index.jsf 

Part-one of a two-part initiative developed by Brin who just marked his first hundred days in office, the Public Access System provides a secure way for individuals to obtain basic information on any court case in Lake County -- from checking on a future court date and amounts due, to parties involved in a case. The second of Brin's two-pronged initiative, Electronic Filing, will be launched for public use this fall.

"It's not an 8:30 to 5:00 world anymore, we live in an age of technology and information." said Brin. "In the private sector companies implement technology to remove barriers and make doing business easier, less expensive and more efficient for the customer -- this is exactly what my office has done with the implementation of the Public Access System," the Circuit Clerk explained.

"In my view, government best serves the taxpayers when it operates like a business," said Brin. "I've been both a corporate attorney and a business executive so I place a great deal of value on principles employed in the private sector," he continued. "The Public Access System we've implemented has taken what was an incredibly lengthy and time consuming process, simplified it, removed the time barriers, and made it more efficient," elaborated the Circuit Clerk.

"With what my office has made available through the Public Access System, people won't have to call or come in to the Circuit Clerk's office when they need basic information on a court case; Instead, they can get the information, completely free of charge, as is convenient for them," stated Brin, "and, I want to be clear, by convenient that means from home, at 2a.m, on a Saturday evening if they'd like."

"Our Public Access System goes a step further in the efficiency spectrum in that it's not just efficient for the customer, but it creates a higher degree of efficiency for the Circuit Clerk's office," continued Brin. "Making the information available on line frees up our phones and lessens customer wait times considerably. As a result, my office will be able to serve the customers better and faster," added Brin.

"In short," Brin concluded, "with our Public Access System the Circuit Clerk's office has found a way to use technology to extend limited resources and deliver a better and more efficient service to the taxpayers of Lake County."

No tax dollars were used in the creation, development or implementation of the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Public Access system.

The Public Access System is fully portable to any mobile device, including iPads, iPhone and laptops.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court's Public Access System is a user friendly web interface program that will be available free of charge and registration will not be required for use.