Court records online include private information for thousands of Missouri residents
Court records online include private information for thousands of Missouri residents
Josh Renaud Apr 28, 2023
Documents containing Social Security numbers and other private information for thousands of Missourians are accessible to anyone using the Casenet website, the state’s judicial records system, the Post-Dispatch recently discovered.
Missouri Supreme Court officials have acknowledged the issue after being alerted by the Post-Dispatch, and they fixed one vulnerability on Casenet. But thousands more documents with sensitive information remain online because they are considered open records. Those documents were filed by one state agency over several years, but it’s unclear if other records may also expose private information.
The discovery comes at a challenging time for the court, as it prepares to broaden electronic access to documents this summer. It is the culmination of a yearslong effort requiring officials to balance access and transparency against the need to protect personal information.
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“We in the judiciary take security of our systems very seriously, continuously take action to improve their security, and very much appreciate you sharing your concerns,” Beth Riggert, a spokeswoman for the state Supreme Court, wrote in a statement.
The Post-Dispatch discovered two different situations in which private information was exposed, after a reader learned his Social Security number was publicly visible on Casenet and alerted the newspaper.
The Post-Dispatch reported the vulnerabilities to state, Supreme Court and local court officials, as well as to a state agency that had filed thousands of unredacted documents in prior years. The newspaper delayed publishing this story for three weeks to give officials time to address the issues.
Broken code and open records
For decades, the Casenet website has been a point of pride for the state’s judicial branch.
The Missouri Legislature mandated the creation of a “statewide court automation system” in 1994. Court leaders eventually launched and expanded Casenet, along with systems for case management, electronic filing and more.
Today, the public can use the website for free to search nearly 26 million records from local and state courts across Missouri. Users can review basic case information, such as docket entries, charges and judgments. The website’s “track this case” feature lets people get email or text updates about cases, and it allows defendants to plead guilty and pay fines electronically.
The Office of the State Courts Administrator, which reports to the Supreme Court, runs Casenet.
Josh Renaud Apr 28, 2023
Documents containing Social Security numbers and other private information for thousands of Missourians are accessible to anyone using the Casenet website, the state’s judicial records system, the Post-Dispatch recently discovered.
Missouri Supreme Court officials have acknowledged the issue after being alerted by the Post-Dispatch, and they fixed one vulnerability on Casenet. But thousands more documents with sensitive information remain online because they are considered open records. Those documents were filed by one state agency over several years, but it’s unclear if other records may also expose private information.
The discovery comes at a challenging time for the court, as it prepares to broaden electronic access to documents this summer. It is the culmination of a yearslong effort requiring officials to balance access and transparency against the need to protect personal information.
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Archdiocese releases third draft of proposed changes to St. Louis parishes
Goold: Cardinals traveled a long way to get nowhere, far from the team they need to be
‘Rudderless ship of chaos’: St. Louis judge advances Kim Gardner contempt case
“We in the judiciary take security of our systems very seriously, continuously take action to improve their security, and very much appreciate you sharing your concerns,” Beth Riggert, a spokeswoman for the state Supreme Court, wrote in a statement.
The Post-Dispatch discovered two different situations in which private information was exposed, after a reader learned his Social Security number was publicly visible on Casenet and alerted the newspaper.
The Post-Dispatch reported the vulnerabilities to state, Supreme Court and local court officials, as well as to a state agency that had filed thousands of unredacted documents in prior years. The newspaper delayed publishing this story for three weeks to give officials time to address the issues.
Broken code and open records
For decades, the Casenet website has been a point of pride for the state’s judicial branch.
The Missouri Legislature mandated the creation of a “statewide court automation system” in 1994. Court leaders eventually launched and expanded Casenet, along with systems for case management, electronic filing and more.
Today, the public can use the website for free to search nearly 26 million records from local and state courts across Missouri. Users can review basic case information, such as docket entries, charges and judgments. The website’s “track this case” feature lets people get email or text updates about cases, and it allows defendants to plead guilty and pay fines electronically.
The Office of the State Courts Administrator, which reports to the Supreme Court, runs Casenet.
