October 24, 2005

The Supreme Court reiterates its commitment to providing all Indiana courts with a 21st century case management system that connects each court's system with the others' and with those who need and use court information.

To further that objective, the Court entered into a contract several years ago with Computer Associates International, Inc., to provide and install such a system. Although this contract was terminated last month, a great deal of valuable work has been done and knowledge acquired. And significant advances in technology have been made since the beginning of the project. Because of these developments, the Court is optimistic about achieving its case management system goals.

In order to determine the best way to proceed, the Court has decided first to gather information systematically on recent developments in case management systems in general and case management systems technology in particular. In the past month, the staff of the Court's Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC) has attended the national Court Technology Conference in Seattle, and hosted a day-long briefing by the National Center for State Courts' technology expert.

In addition, the Court has instructed the staff to invite trial court case management system vendors to demonstrate their systems to the staff during the next several weeks. These demonstrations are for information purposes only and are not part of any procurement process. The staff has been directed to invite all vendors that have trial court case management systems installed in Indiana courts and, in addition, other vendors known to the staff to have case management systems installed statewide in other states. Vendors that participate will receive no preference in any future procurement; vendors that do not, no penalty.

Any vendor not invited that wishes to make a presentation should contact Mary L. DePrez, Counsel and Director of Trial Court Technology, to discuss its interest (mdeprez@jtac.in.gov or 317-234-2604). All contacts by vendors or all contacts made on behalf of vendors should be directed to Mary L. DePrez and not to any other individual associated with the project.

Following the conclusion of the demonstrations, the Court will announce whether it will begin a formal procurement process or take other steps toward achieving its statewide case management system vision.

In the meantime, the Court and JTAC will continue with its project, previously announced, to help courts and clerks transfer traffic conviction information to the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Timely transmission of much of this data is required to comply with federal and state law. In a partnership with the BMV, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has awarded a $1 million grant for this purpose to the Indiana Supreme Court's Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC), and these funds will be used to provide trial courts and clerks with options for sending data electronically to the BMV.