CourtConnect Arkansas: Access Court Records

In today’s digital age, CourtConnect Arkansas has become an essential tool for anyone seeking easy access to public records. If you’re looking for court documents in Arkansas, the correct platform to know about is CourtConnect (also being transitioned into Search ARCourts) from the Arkansas Judiciary. This article will walk you through what CourtConnect is, how it works, what you can find there, how to use it, and what limitations to keep in mind.

What is CourtConnect Arkansas?

A public access portal is courtconnect, an online Judiciary portal which provides the members of the public to access information regarding some cases in court. You can search and find cases in a court having the Contexte case-management system by searching by party name or business name or case number.

Notably, the Judiciary states that they are phasing out the older Public CourtConnect tool and abandoning it in favor of the more recent Search ARCourts experience:

• Public CourtConnect should be retired and a new system named Search ARCourts should be introduced. 

Why is it useful?

The following are some of the major reasons as to why CourtConnect/Search ARCourts is a useful tool:

• Public access: It provides ordinary users (citizens, researchers, business owners etc.) with an opportunity to search the information about a particular court case (with a fair deal) without having to visit the court in person.
• Efficiency: You can type in a name or a case number and immediately get the results (when the courts are participating).
• Transparency: The system allows parties, filings, judges, dispositions, future events, and so on to be seen on the screen which increases the understanding of the populace on how the courts are dealing with cases.
• Filtering: The new Search ARCourts interface is filtered with better filtering, search options, and better usability.

Search ARCourts What will you find on CourtConnect?

The Arkansas Judiciary lists the following as the type of information that you can access using the tool:

• List of the parties involved in a case (individuals or businesses).
• The judge the case is being tried by.
• The documents provided to the court (i.e. filings in the case).
• Sentences and dismissals (on criminal cases) or verdicts (on civil cases).
• Future (gleaming hearings, etc.).
• Attachment to documents in few cases (not all) – based on the court and type of case.
• Simple circuit and district court case reporting statistics.

CourtConnect / Search ARCourts: How to Use

The following is a step wise guide on how to use the system:

• Visit Arkansas Judiciary web site and go to the Online Services section.
• Click on the CourtConnect or better still on the Arcourts as Search.
• Select your search parameters: you usually have an option of searching by the name of the party, the name of the business or by the number of the case.
• You can also choose or filter by the type of court in case you know the county or court.
• View the results: you will find a list of corresponding cases, and by clicking on a result, you can see information about it (parties, judge, filings, etc.).

You can also view or download document images or filings, where it is available. Remark: there might be restricted documents.

Searching tips:

• Spell names as accurately as you can.
• Trial variations (initials) should be made in case you do not get the result.
• Narrow by case number in case you have it – it is the most accurate.
• Note that sealed records or records covered by protective order will not appear.

Assuming that you are finding a result, but cannot see some filings, the court clerk must be contacted to seek additional aid.

Limitations & Things to Know

Although CourtConnect/Search ARCourts has tremendous potential, it has its limitations:

• Not universal: It may not apply to all courts or to old cases, particularly where there is a difference in case management software.
• Limited content: Even in instances where a case appears, the record (or the entire record) may be closed or not accessible to the outside world according to Arkansas law.
• Timeliness: Timeliness can be in terms of delays between filings and between the system updating. Cases may not be real-time.
• Interpretation: Access by the public is not equated with legal advice. The documents that you read can be technical or can be difficult to understand without having the legal background.
• Certified copies: You may be required to have an officially certified copy of the document with the clerk (employment background checks, professional licensing, etc.) not just the image on the Internet.
• Privacy and accuracy: The system is subject to the correct input by the courts. In case of misspelling a name or missing a filing, this can impact on your search of the case.

Why Change to Search ARCourts?

According to the Judiciary, the upgraded interface, which should be used to substitute the older Public CourtConnect, is called Search ARCourts. Features include:

• This is a more friendly interface.
• Increased filtering and search.
• Easier access to the public and better performance.

FAQs

Q: What is CourtConnect Arkansas?

A: CourtConnect is the citizen portal to court records in Arkansas of courts operating with the Contexte case management system.

Q: Is it free to use?

A: Yes.- basic access to the system is free to search and view cases where allowed. Nevertheless, certified copies (when needed) can be charged at the clerk office.

Q: Can I search by case number?

A: Yes. The most accurate way of finding a case is normally by use of the case number.

Q: Is it possible to access all documents in a case?

A: Not always. Certain filings can be secret or not mandated by law; not all of the documents can be seen on the public portal. 

Q: Do every court in Arkansas belong to CourtConnect/Search ARCourts?

A: No. There are only courts that have the Contexte case management system and are a part of the portal. Not all older or specialized courts are yet covered. 

Summary

To recap it all: to find information on court cases in Arkansas, beginning with the online service of the Arkansas Judiciary, formerly known as CourtConnect arkansas, now being developed into Search ARCourts. It provides open access to most of the case records, allows searching by party or case number, and provides a clear view of the court proceedings in many of the participating courts. Meanwhile, you must understand the restrictions in respect of sealed records, non-participating courts, and legal interpretation.