Massachusetts Court Records

In May of 2003 the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court issued an official policy statement regarding electronic access to Massachusetts court records. Public opinion regarding privacy issues and security prompted the court to create specific guidelines in order to ensure that privacy of certain case participants when court records of Massachusetts are retrieved from online sources. In regards to any Massachusetts court records involving civil cases, the majority of basic case information is provided through online sources. Any civil cases which have been officially excluded will not be made available in any form through any court websites. In regards to court records of Massachusetts that pertain to criminal cases, information similar to what is allowable for civil cases is available through court websites except for the defendant's name. The defendant's name in any criminal court cases is generally not available through electronic and online resources. However, trial court websites will provide the docket number.