2009-18: Warning Regarding Browser Plugin Called RECAP

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AO) has alerted us to the existence of a new browser plugin called RECAP.  This plugin takes any document a PACER user accesses and instantly loads it onto a public Internet website, where it can be accessed by anyone for free.  We have been asked by the AO to send out a reminder to exempt PACER users letting them know that use of RECAP violates the terms of exempt PACER access and will result in loss of exempt status. 

For other PACER users, the AO cannot prohibit you from using RECAP, but we have been asked to caution you on use of the plugin since it can potentially circumvent CM-ECF security and put secure documents at risk.  If you have access to any sealed pleadings or any pleadings that contain full social security numbers or other private information relating to parties on a case, it is possible that you would be posting this private information on the public Internet.  The AO is currently looking at the RECAP plugin to see if there are any other potential problems with its use.  We strongly discourage you from using this plugin until the implications of its use are better understood. 

Questions on use of RECAP can be sent to our court’s automation manager, Lana Merewether at lana_merewether [at] nmcourt [dot] fed [dot] us or to the AO representative, JoAnn Swanson, at joann_swanson [at] ao [dot] uscourts [dot] gov.