General Information
A significant amount of information regarding covering criminal trials can be found in the Covering Criminal Trials – Journalist’s Guide on the United States Courts' website. This information may be helpful in answering questions on many media related topics that you may have.
https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/covering-criminal-trials-journalists-guide
Access to Documents
The Central District of Illinois uses an electronic case filing system (Case Management/Electronic Case Files or “CM/ECF”). The public can obtain documents entered into CM/ECF through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (“PACER”) system. You will need to register with PACER in order to access documents. The fees charged for the records are listed on the PACER website.
The direct link to the PACER website is: https://pacer.gov
PACER is easy to use and offers an inexpensive, fast, and comprehensive case information service to any individual with a personal computer ("PC") and Internet access.
Local Rules
Members of the media should be aware the Central District of Illinois has published Local Rules in order to manage the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases. The Local Rules can be found at: https://www.ilcd.uscourts.gov/sites/ilcd/files/local_rules/2017-10%20Complete%20Manual.pdf
Please be aware the Local Rules provide: Subject to extremely limited exceptions, NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE PERMITTED IN THE COURTHOUSE. Local Rule 83.7.
Cases
USA v. Christensen