CHARLESTON – Docket information about cases filed in the state magistrate courts is now available online to the public for free.
“The court is trying to make court records more accessible,” Chief Justice Tim Armstead said during a January 25 press conference in the Supreme Court law library. “This is the next step in that process.
“The magistrate case record search system greatly improves access to court records.”
The link to access the records is https://MCRSearch.courtswv.gov.
The search is free and doesn’t require registration. On the site, anyone can enter a first or last name or a case number to generate search results. The information contains names, general details about cases such as dates filed, charges filed and a docketed list of documents in the court filing.
To access the actual files, a person must call or visit the magistrate court clerk in the county where the case was filed. To obtain such documents, clerks are required by law to charge a nominal fee.
Armstead says the search system helps callers and visitors know what to ask for and which county they need to contact. He also said the public can continue to use existing public access terminals located in each magistrate court clerk’s office, which will be enhanced to include search results from all counties statewide.
“We are making this announcement in the West Virginia Law Library to emphasize that users can now search magistrate court records from anywhere at any time, including from their own computers, mobile devices, or computers located in public libraries,” Armstead said. “Our court recognizes that our court system is here to serve our citizens.
“This represents the latest step in our court’s ongoing efforts to make our legal proceedings more open and accessible.”
Most case filings for the state Supreme Court of Appeals, the state Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Business Court Division and the Mass Litigation Panel are available on the state court website.
No circuit court criminal and civil cases or family court cases are available online, but the court gradually is moving to a common statewide circuit court e-filing system. As of February 5, 53 of the state’s 55 counties will be part of that system. Only Kanawha and Monongalia counties remain, and they are expected to be part of the new system by summer.
