Courthouse News Service

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Courthouse News Service
Industry Publishing
Genre Civil litigation
Headquarters
Pasadena, California
,
United States
Products
Website www.courthousenews.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Courthouse News Service is an American news service primarily focusing on civil litigation. [1] It offers both free and paid services. Its core audience is lawyers and law firms, who subscribe to the service; [1] [2] [3] other subscribers include nonprofits, government agencies, corporations, other media outlets, and academic institutions. [3]

Contents

Courthouse News has reporters across the United States who cover proceedings in state and federal trial courts and appellate courts for its non-paywalled public website. [1] [3] Its reporters also cover federal and state legislation and congressional activity. It is a member of the Senate Press Gallery. [1]

In addition to digital print journalism, Courthouse News produces a podcast called Sidebar. It launched in May 2021. [4] [5]

Unlike CourtExpress and CourtLink, Courthouse News Service does not provide comprehensive docket information; rather, it alerts paid subscribers to new filings and rulings. [6]

As of 2020, the service had more than 2,200 subscribers. [3] It is a competitor to Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis, and Bloomberg. [3]

History and awards

Courthouse News Service was founded in 1990 by Bill Girdner, who remains the news agency's owner and editor. [3] It is based in Pasadena, California. [1]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group received between $2 million and $5 million in federally backed small business loans from City National Bank as part of the Paycheck Protection Program. The organization stated that the money would help it retain 256 employees. [7] [8]

In 2023, Girdner received the James Madison Award for his First Amendment court victories. [9] [10]

Press access litigation

Courthouse News Service has been the plaintiff in numerous First Amendment court cases seeking quicker access to new complaint filings. [9]

Idaho

In 2024, Courthouse News Service won a key victory in the Northwest where a federal judge handed down a broad ruling that enjoined Idaho’s top court official from withholding public documents. [11]

Ohio

In March of 2023, U.S. District Judge Sarah Morrison ordered the Franklin County court clerk Columbus, Ohio to stop withholding e-filed complaints from public view during a clerk review process, as a result of litigation filed by Courthouse News Service. [12]

Vermont

A federal judge in November 2021 enjoined Vermont court clerks from withholding access to e-filed complaints. She decided in favor of news outlets contesting an access blackout while clerks review and process new court filings. [13]

Other states

Courthouse News has also secured injunctions over press access battles in Virginia, Illinois, New York, Texas, and California. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About Us". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ Jane Gordon (October 9, 2005). "Dear Blog: It's Another Day in Connecticut". The New York Times . Dan Levine, a reporter with Courthouse News Service, a national news wire for lawyers
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Courthouse News Service v. Schaefer , Civil Action No. 2:18-cv-39 (E.D. Va. February 20, 2020).
  4. ↑ "Sidebar | A podcast from Courthouse News".
  5. ↑ Sidebar by Courthouse News (News), Courthouse News, 2021-05-25, retrieved 2024-10-25
  6. ↑ Levitt, Carole; Rosch, Mark E. (December 19, 2006). The Lawyer's Guide to Fact Finding on the Internet (3 ed.). American Bar Association. p. 388. ISBN   978-1590316719.
  7. ↑ Syed, Moiz; Willis, Derek. "COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE - Coronavirus Bailouts - ProPublica". ProPublica. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. ↑ James Bikales (6 July 2020). "Here are the major media companies that received coronavirus relief loans". The Hill . Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. 1 2 FOIFT. "Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award". Freedom of Information Foundation Texas. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  10. ↑ "FOIFT honors Bill Girdner with James Madison Award". October 6, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Girdner, Bill. "Courthouse News wins public access case in Idaho". Courthouse News Service.
  12. ↑ Pullano, Nina (March 21, 2023). "Federal judge orders Columbus court to stop delaying access to new complaints". Courthouse News.
  13. ↑ Girdner, Bill (November 22, 2021). "Federal judge enjoins Vermont clerks from withholding First Amendment access". Courthouse News.
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