NextGen CM/ECF Information

NextGen CM/ECF Information

On February 10, 2020, the Case Management/Electronic Case Filing System (CM/ECF) of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio was upgraded to the Next Generation of CM/ECF (NextGen). This affects all “Registered CM/ECF Users” (attorneys; pro se parties registered to file, view or receive service of documents through the CM/ECF system; members of the media registered for e-service). NextGen includes “Central Sign-On,” a new functionality that allows registered CM/ECF users to access all NextGen courts to which they have access (appellate, bankruptcy, and district) using one PACER login and password.

Registered CM/ECF users must have their own individual upgraded PACER account. PACER account credentials are used for logging in to NextGen CM/ECF. Shared PACER accounts cannot be used after February 10, 2020.

Step 1. Obtain Your Own Individual PACER Account if you do not already have one. Shared PACER accounts will no longer be useable once the court has upgraded to NextGen. Register for a PACER account. If you already have your own PACER account, then proceed to Step 2.

A note to firms: Firms may set up a PACER Administrative Account to help manage attorney accounts, and have them centrally billed for filing and PACER access fees. Complete information regarding PACER Administrative Accounts (PAAs) can be found here: https://www.pacer.gov/documents/paausermanual.pdf. Click here to register for a PAA Account: https://www.pacer.gov/reg_firm.html

Step 2. If you already have your own individual PACER account (as opposed to a shared account that your whole firm or office uses), determine whether your PACER account is an upgraded or legacy account. (Legacy accounts were created prior to August 11, 2014.) Legacy accounts must be upgraded in order to file in a NextGen court. Instructions for upgrading your PACER account. After reviewing the above instructions, click here to manage your account: https://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/pscof/login.jsf.

Important Note to CJA Panel Members: A single NextGen account will allow you to toggle between exempt (CJA) and non-exempt (non-CJA). CJA Procedures for NextGen CM/ECF

The PACER Service Center has created an electronic learning module specifically for CJA counsel: PACER CJA ELM (works best with Internet Explorer)

Questions regarding Individual PACER accounts should be directed to PACER at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov or by calling (800) 676-6856. Answers to frequently asked questions may be found at https://www.pacer.gov/nextgen. Preparing for NextGen - PACER USERS

Step 3. Make sure you know the login and password that was used in CM/ECF prior to February 10, 2020. These are the credentials that were issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and used to e-file, view restricted documents and/or maintain e-mail notification preferences. If you do not know the CM/ECF login and/or password, please call the Clerk's Office Help Desk at 1-800-355-8498.

Step 4. On or after February 10, 2020, you must link your upgraded PACER account to your CM/ECF account or you will be unable to access the Court’s electronic filing system. Instructions for Linking an upgraded PACER account to a NextGen CM/ECF account

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

Step-by-Step instructions for registering for a new individual PACER account

Step-by-Step instructions for upgrading an existing legacy PACER account

Step-by-Step instructions for linking an upgraded PACER account to a NextGen CM/ECF account

CJA Exempt Status Instructions

Step-by-Step Instructions for Activating CJA Privileges (Existing CJA Attorney with a PACER Exempt Account, Newly Appointed CJA Attorney with an Existing PACER Account and/or Newly Appointed CJA Attorney with No PACER Account)

Instructions Non-Attorney E-File Registration

Instructions Register MDL-PHV

QUESTIONS ABOUT NEXTGEN?

Cleveland: 1-800-355-8498

Akron: 330-252-6000

Toledo: 419-213-5500