Audio Files Now Available via PACER Federal Docket

PACER is now adding audiofiles of court hearings, accessible for a cost of $2.40 each.  According to Pacer Service Center Quarterly, Oct. 2010:

“Currently, the following courts provide access to audio files through the PACER system with more courts to be added at a later date: the U.S. District Courts in Nebraska and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in the Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Alabama, Rhode Island and Maine. Many other courts are in the early stages of implementing the initiative.

Digital recordings of hearings can be identified by running a Docket Activity Report and selecting the “Audio” category.”

For those unfamiliar with PACER , PACER contains all federal bankruptcy, district and appellate court dockets, including access to the text of many filings. The Library subscribes to Pacer. Cleveland-Marshall faculty, staff and students who need Pacer documents should contact a reference librarian. Otherwise, to access PACER, you must register and provide credit card information. PACER charges 8 cents a page for search results and documents retrieved, but opinions are free. There is a per document cap of $2.40 (30 pages). No fee is owed until an account holder accrues charges of more than $10 in a quarterly billing cycle.