The Supreme Court of North Carolina Adopts Electronic-Filing Rules for the Implementation of eCourts
By the Supreme Court’s Office of Administrative Counsel
The Supreme Court of North Carolina has adopted amendments to the General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Courts in response to the Judicial Branch’s ongoing eCourts initiative. The Supreme Court’s order amending the rules was adopted on April 21, 2021, and is effective on May 10, 2021.
Beginning this summer, the Judicial Branch will implement Odyssey, a statewide electronic-filing and case-management system. The system will be made available across the state in phases over the next few years. Among other things, the amendments adopted by the Supreme Court define electronic filing in counties with Odyssey.
The Supreme Court’s order affects the following rules:
- Rule 5, “Filing of Pleadings and Other Documents in Counties with Odyssey”
- Rule 5.1, “Filing of Pleadings and Other Documents in Counties Without Odyssey”
- Rule 22, “Local Rules of Practice and Procedure”
- Rule 27, “Sealed Documents and Protective Orders”
In a separate order, the Supreme Court also adopted amendments to the Supplemental Rules of Practice and Procedure for the North Carolina eFiling Pilot Project. The amendments begin the process of phasing out the pilot project, which is available only in select counties, to make way for Odyssey. The order amending the pilot-project rules is also effective on May 10, 2021.
If you have questions about the Supreme Court’s rulemaking process, please contact the Supreme Court’s Office of Administrative Counsel by email at [email protected].
###
The Paralegal Division Blog is managed by the division’s Communications Committee. Via the blog, the Communications Committee provides information written by attorneys, paralegals, and other experts designed specifically for paralegals in the areas of substantive law, ethics, technology, paralegal practice advice, and more. If you are interested in signing up to submit a blog post on a future date, you can do so here. When you are ready to submit a blog post, you can do so by using this form.
You may also wish to participate in the division by using our virtual suggestion box to submit suggestions/ideas to the Division Council, nominating a paralegal for Paralegal Spotlight, or completing the Paralegal Spotlight Questionnaire if you are nominating yourself.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Communications Committee, please contact the Communications Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you are interested in joining other division committees, you can review a list of committees and sign up here.