Pa. considers new rules on public access to files

Pennsylvania’s court system is working on new rules about what the public will be able to see in the files of common pleas and appellate courts, both online and in person at the courthouse.

An 18-page proposal was unveiled last week, and court officials are seeking public feedback before the Supreme Court decides what to adopt.

The court system wants to limit or prevent access to certain sensitive information, and standardize practices that vary widely across the state.

The policy wouldn’t mandate that any new records get posted online.

Officials say they want to keep some material from showing up in the file, where possible. If that material must be included, they’re suggesting it be listed on a “confidential information form” that wouldn’t be publicly available.