enlarge John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Assistant clerk Kathy Ray works among the records at the District Court in Portland, which is the state’s busiest. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has formed a working group to formulate a plan for putting court documents online while maintaining personal security.

It's a far cry from the federal courts, which let you search most documents from your home computer.

Leaders in Maine's judicial branch hope to close that technological gap as much as possible beginning this year.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has assembled an eight- member working group, led by Justice Andrew Mead of Bangor, to come up with a plan for putting court documents online while ensuring that confidential pieces -- such as Social Security numbers and medical records -- remain confidential.

The group will meet for the first time Friday in Augusta. It has until June 1 to deliver concrete proposals to the high court.

Online access would make a dramatic difference in the way Mainers get court information -- ranging from criminal defendants who want to check court dates to companies that do background checks or journalists who research cases of public interest.

"In the world we live in, people are used to getting things quickly and easily," said Ted Glessner, the state courts' administrator. "We are behind where a number of other states are, but I don't think dramatically behind."

Glessner said the concept of keeping records online has been discussed for years, but has been stalled recently. One reason is that some people expected to leap completely from the paper system to a computerized one.

The idea now is to start small and get at least some case information online, Glessner said. The ultimate goal -- electronic filing and access across the board -- remains distant.

"If we got to the day that information which was intended to be accessible is out there electronically, it would be better for all of us," Glessner said.

The group is composed of Mead, Glessner, Chief Superior Court Justice Thomas Humphrey, Chief District Court Judge Ann Murray, District Court Judge J. David Kennedy, former Assistant Attorney General Charles Leadbetter, court technology analyst Terry Gordon and clerk Gladys Howard.

Murray said she looks forward to Friday's meeting. She has general concerns about privacy and the potential for hackers to steal information.

"There would have to be some safeguards so that if people have access to it, they couldn't change it," Murray said.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court took a step toward online conversion in 2004, when it created the Maine Task Force on Electronic Records Access. That task force presented its final report in September 2005, and it focused on the question of what information to make available online, but did not suggest a plan for implementation.

Mal Leary, a longtime Maine journalist who runs Capitol News Service in Augusta, served on that task force and was pleased to hear about the new group.

Leary also is president of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, whose membership includes employees of Blethen Maine Newspapers.

"If you put the records online, it negates the whole process of people having to go into the courts and file a (Freedom of Access Act) request," Leary said. "To me, it's a no-brainer."

Leary said he believes the upfront investment of money has stalled the transition to online records. He said the judicial branch, like the rest of state government, has fought for basic funding in recent years.

"When you are talking about courthouse security versus information accessibility, that is a tough sell," Leary said. "Where do you find the money when you are in that kind of situation?"

Glessner said no cost estimates will be available until the group works out proposals. Many other states, and the federal courts, charge user fees for access.

Some court information already is entered and stored in two state databases, which...