Perhaps more important, that attorney has the power to file documents with the court without even going to the courthouse. It's all electronic. The information travels by Internet, instead of by mail or on foot. Electronic access and filing of court records and documents are catching on throughout the country. Court administrators love it because it streamlines litigation.
Lawyers love it because it cuts cost and effort.
They can file documents at the last minute or check up on a case from their home computers-in their pajamas, if they wish. But also appearing on the bankruptcy court site are Social Security numbers and other sensitive information, including creditors' names and addresses, and bank account information required in bankruptcy petitions. The Internet also makes that information available to any user with a Web browser and a modicum of curiosity. And that makes judges, lawyers and privacy advocates plenty nervous. In the race to digitize cases from start to finish, many of them are screaming to put the brakes on.