TESTIMONY Re: Proposed Amendments to RI Court Rules

This letter was sent from the ACLU of Rhode Island and the R.I. Center for Justice during the public comment period for the Rhode Island Supreme Court's proposed changes to the Court's rules, specifically regarding court document access as the Court transitions to a new electronic case system in the near future.

The letter raises multiple concerns in the proposed changes to the rules, including how the public and attorneys may have their access significantly limited; new undefined costs of accessing documents remotely; that law enforcement agencies would have automatic access to documents; and that the designation of "non-public" documents would be be made by the party filing the documents without further review.