Warren County soon will participate in a pilot program initiated by the Mississippi Supreme Court that will allow online access to court documents by attorneys, judges and the public.

William Waller Jr., chief justice of the state’s high court, spoke to Vicksburg’s Rotary Club members Thursday and outlined the new electronic filing and case management system. So far, it has been tested and implemented only in Madison County, but is being moved into a pilot phase in both Scott and Warren counties.

“It offers not only e-filing, it offers public access, plus it’s a great management tool for the judges,” Waller told the group, which included as guests Warren County Circuit Court Judge M. James Chaney and Chancellor Vicki Roach Barnes, as well as State Sen. Briggs Hopson, circuit clerk staff members and attorneys and law clerks.

The system, which has been initiated in chancery court but which could eventually be used in circuit court as well, allows lawyers to file pleadings and documents electronically at any time, any day of the week. Chancery courts have jurisdictions over cases including divorce, probate, land records and some juvenile matters; Circuit courts hear cases including felony and civil jury trials.

In addition, attorneys, judges, law clerks and the public will have access, from any computer at any time, to docket information, documents and other case filings. Case management will be more efficient and physical storage needs reduced with less paperwork.

Warren County will move into the initial phases of the system around Jan. 19, with the first chancery court e-filings possible before the end of March, Supreme Court spokesman Beverly Kraft said.

The Mississippi Supreme Court began developing the system in 2005. The Madison County Chancery Clerk’s office has been testing a version developed from a federal model since May 2008. A similar system is currently in use in more than 200 federal courts.

Complete information on the electronic filing and case management system can be found on the Supreme Court’s Web site under the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) link.

Waller, first elected to the Supreme Court in 1996, became presiding judge after his 2004 re-election and chief justice in January 2009 based on his status as senior judge on the panel. He lives in Jackson with his wife, Charlotte, and three children.

Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com