Court Records Should Be Free

The Open Courts Act of 2026 would eliminate PACER fees that currently charge the public to access federal court records, which collect over $150 million annually despite being public documents. Supporters argue that these fees create barriers to democratic accountability, particularly for low-income individuals, and that replacing the outdated PACER system with a modern, unified platform would improve access, security, and reduce long-term costs. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and numerous civil society groups are backing the legislation to make court records freely available and easier to find.