The Difference Between PACER and ECF

In the past, there was a distinction between the Court's case management system (called 'BANCAP') and the system accessed by the public known as 'PACER' (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). These two systems were completely separate databases housed on totally different servers.

On June 16, 2003, our Court turned on our new CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Filing) system. With CM/ECF dawns a new era for the Court and the public we serve. There is no longer a distinction between PACER and the Court's internal case management system. All users (internal and external) who access CM/ECF are looking at the same data in real time.

You must have a PACER account to access our system. If you do not already have one, please contact the PACER Service Center to set up an account. (Please note: the Court does not administer PACER accounts. All inquiries should be directed to the PACER service center.)

Access to case information is available at no charge in the lobby of the Buffalo and Rochester Courthouses.