In the not-too-distant

past, researching a criminal or civil case in Fayette County was a time-consuming

process that involved plowing through hefty docket books in the search

for a particular case.

Now, all it

takes is a few taps on the keyboard and perhaps a mouse click or two.

Superior Court

Clerk Sheila Studdard has achieved one of her goals: computerizing the

court's case management system. Instead of shuffling through multiple

docket books, citizens can use a public computer in the State Court office

to search criminal and civil cases in both Superior Court and State Court.

The database

also includes traffic citations from State Court and the information will

be available instantly for judges at special computer terminals on the

bench.

Cases can be

searched by first, last or middle name of a party to the case, allowing

for a much easier process than thumbing through the multiple docket books,

Studdard said.

"You never

have to pull a file," Studdard said. "... I think it's great

for John Q. Citizen."

Full case records

are available for the criminal division dating