The Federal Judiciary has developed a Next Generation (NextGen) Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system that will allow attorneys to use the same account for both PACER and electronic filing access. E-filers will be required to use an individual PACER login and password for access to the electronic filing system.  The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island plans to implement NextGen on August 23, 2021. After this implementation date, the username and password that an e-filer currently uses to access the Court's CM/ECF system will not work with NextGen.

What Is New For Attorneys In NextGen

One key feature of NextGen is “Central Sign-On,” a new functionality that will allow attorneys, others with permission to electronically file, and parties receiving electronic service of court documents to maintain one account across all NextGen courts (appellate, bankruptcy, and district).  E-filers will be able to use one login and password to e-file in every NextGen court where they have been granted e-filing privileges, rather than having to remember a separate login and password for each individual court.  The same login and password will be used to access the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system to view dockets and other case information for all federal courts, including those that have not yet upgraded to NextGen. 

Get Ready for NextGen

E-filers must do the following in order to file in NextGen:

1. Obtain your own individual PACER account (link is external) or upgrade your existing individual PACER account (link is external). Please follow these instructions: (Upgrade PACER Account - Learning Aid (link is external))
2. Know your current District of Rhode Island CM/ECF login and password (if unknown, reset password).
3. After the court installs NextGen on August 23, 2021 - Link your PACER account with CM/ECF. Please follow these instructions (link is external)

CJA Panel Attorneys will need only one PACER account for filing and viewing in NextGen. If you have a separate exempt CJA account now, those exempt privileges will need to be added to your individual upgraded PACER account.

• Upgrading Your Pacer Account (link is external)
• NextGen CJA Exempt Status Instructions (link is external)
• CJA Navigating from NextGen to CurrentGen CM/ECF (link is external)
• NextGen Activating CJA Privileges (link is external)

Attorneys who have had their motion to appear Pro Hac Vice pursuant to LR Gen 204 granted, must then complete the following instructions in the below guidance in order to electronically file in this Court. 

• Upgrading Your Pacer Account (link is external)
• Pro Hac Vice Admission to Practice (link is external)

• How do I know if I have an upgraded PACER account?
  Upgraded PACER accounts have usernames that are at least 8 characters. You may have upgraded your PACER account recently if you practice before another court that already has migrated to NextGen, such as the First Circuit. If your username is 6 characters, you do not have an upgraded account. Go to https://www.pacer.gov (link is external) and click on Manage My Account to upgrade your PACER account.
• What happens to my CM/ECF account after the court transitions to NextGen?
  After the Court upgrades to NextGen, you must link your current CM/ECF account to your PACER account. After the accounts are linked, you will no longer use your CM/ECF username or password to file in this Court.
• My law firm uses a shared PACER account. Can we continue to use that account?
  Not for e-filing. Each attorney must have an individual PACER account to use for electronic filing in NextGen. The law firm can create a PACER Administrative Account (PAA) (link is external) to manage the billing for all of the individual accounts. Staff members who share a PACER account only for research can continue to share. NOTE: The PAA will not allow access to case information. For more information on PAA Accounts review Information regarding PACER Administrative Accounts (link is external).  To register for a PACER Administrative Account, visit https://www.pacer.gov/reg_firm.html (link is external).
• I linked my account when the Court of Appeals or another District or Bankruptcy Court converted. Do I have to link my account again?
  Yes, once the District of Rhode Island is live on NextGen, you must link your PACER account to your Rhode Island District Court CM/ECF filing account before you can file in this Court.
• I am a CJA attorney, and I currently have two PACER accounts. Will I continue to need two accounts with NextGen?
  CJA Attorneys will only need one PACER account for filing and viewing in CM/ECF NextGen. If you have a separate exempt CJA account now, those exempt privileges will be added to your individual upgraded PACER account; and your current exempt account will be canceled.

March 22, 2021: Next Generation of CM/ECF Initial Annoucement  (link is external)

July 23, 2021: Second Notice Requiring Electronic Filers to Take Action (link is external) 

August 11, 2021: Final Notice Requiring Electronic Filers to Take Action  (link is external)

For assistance with creating a PACER account, please contact PACER at 1-800-676-6856 or visit the PACER website at https://www.pacer.gov (link is external).

For assistance with your current CM/ECF login and password or linking your account after the Court transitions, contact the Clerk's Office at 401-752-7200, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday through Friday.