According to court records, attorneys for both sides participated in mediation in 2021, but it was not until June 2021, that it was reported they were discussing a possible settlement agreement. In November 2021, the parties publicly announced that they had come to an agreement “in principle” but did not disclose any specific details.
This case has captured the attention and support of media outlets, and Congress, including retired Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who while serving in Congress, sponsored the E-Government Act, and in 2017 filed an amici brief in support of PACER users.
Making court record systems such as PACER free for the public to access, is not a new idea, and has been part of congressional discussions for many years, but has now gained bipartisan support.
In 2021 the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move forward on a bipartisan version of the “free PACER bill” that would eliminate PACER fees. This bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, a top Republican on the judiciary committee.
