KYED NextGen Information
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky upgraded its Case Management/Electronic Case Filing System (CM/ECF) to the Next Generation of CM/ECF (NextGen) September 7, 2021. This upgrade provides users with several benefits, including Central Sign-on and the ability for e-filing attorneys to access any NextGen court within which they practice using one login and password.
Central Sign-On allows all CM/ECF users to maintain one account across all NextGen courts (appellate, district, and bankruptcy) and to sign in one time to access all the courts in which they have permission to e-file. Each user is identified with the appropriate level of access in each court. The PACER Service Center supports outside user requests for attorney admissions and e-filing recognition for various courts. Courts continue to be responsible for admitting attorneys and assigning e-filing permissions to users.
In order to file with this Court, you must complete the steps listed under “NextGen Account Information.” Your PACER Account will be your login (entry point for both PACER and CM/ECF). Therefore, you must have access to an individual PACER Account.
PACER Service Center (PSC)
Phone: 1-800-676-6856
Email: pacer@psc.uscourts.gov
CM/ECF Support Information
Local: 859-514-2252
Toll-free: 866-485-6349
NextGen Account Information
For existing CM/ECF filers:
1. Obtain your own PACER account
Obtain your own individual PACER account, if you do not already have one. Register for a new PACER account by clicking here.
For consolidated billing and online account management, which excludes viewing and filing, firms or offices may consider using a PACER Administrative Account (PAA).
More Information on PACER Administrative Accounts
2. Note your upgraded PACER username and password
If you have your own individual PACER account and it was created prior to August 11, 2014 (also known as a Legacy account), you must upgrade your account before you can electronically file in a NextGen court.
Please see the learning aid here for instructions on how to upgrade your PACER account: Upgrade your PACER account
Note: CJA Attorneys should follow the instructions below
NextGen Procedure for CJA Attorneys
3. Note your current CM/ECF username and password
Note your current CM/ECF login and password. This is the login and password you currently use for filing. If you do not know your password, click here to reset it. You will need this information for step four. If you require further assistance, please contact the clerk's office at (859) 514-2252.
4. Link your PACER and CM/ECF Accounts
You must link your upgraded PACER account to your KYED NextGen CM/ECF account. Users will NOT be able to file in NextGen until their CM/ECF account is linked to their upgraded individual PACER account. Please see the link below for detailed instructions.
Linking your PACER and KYED CM/ECF accounts
For new CM/ECF filers:
1. Obtain your own PACER account
Obtain your own individual PACER account, if you do not already have one. Register for a new PACER account by clicking here.
For consolidated billing and online account management, which excludes viewing and filing, firms or offices may consider using a PACER Administrative Account (PAA).
More Information on PACER Administrative Accounts
2. Request access to CM/ECF
Click here for instructions on requesting e-filing access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I know if I have an upgraded PACER account?
Attorneys can determine if their account is upgraded or not by logging in to PACER. If they click Manage Your Account and look next to Account Type, it will indicate if the account is “Legacy” or “Upgraded”. Upgraded PACER accounts have usernames that are at least 8 characters. You may have upgraded your PACER account recently if you practice before another court that already has migrated to NextGen, such as the Sixth Circuit. If your username is 6 characters then you do not have an upgraded account. Go to https://www.pacer.gov/ and click on Manage My Account to upgrade your PACER account.
What happens to my CM/ECF account after the court transitions to NextGen?
After the Court upgrades to NextGen, you will link your current CM/ECF account to your PACER account. After the accounts are linked, you will no longer use your CM/ECF username or password to file in this Court.
My law firm uses a shared PACER account. Can we continue to use that account?
Not for e-filing. Each attorney must have an individual PACER account to use for electronic filing in NextGen. The law firm can create a PACER Administrative Account (PAA) to manage the billing for all of the individual accounts. Staff members who share a PACER account for read-only access may continue to share an account.
I linked my account when the Court of Appeals or another District or Bankruptcy Court transitioned to NextGen. Do I have to link my account again?
Yes, once the Court is live on NextGen, you must link your PACER account to your Eastern District of Kentucky District Court CM/ECF account before you can file in this Court.
I am a CJA Attorney and I currently have two PACER accounts. Will I continue to need two accounts with NextGen?
CJA Attorneys will only need one PACER account for filing and viewing in CM/ECF NextGen. If you have a separate exempt CJA account now, those exempt privileges will be added to your individual upgraded PACER account and your current exempt account will be canceled. Click here for instructions and more information on CJA accounts.
How do I register for a Multi-District Jurisdiction (MDL) PACER account?
Click here for instructions and more information on registering for a MDL account.
How do I register for a Pro Hac Vice (PHV) PACER account?
Click here for instructions and more information on registering for a PHV account.
Click here for instructions and more information on registering for a Bankruptcy Court PHV account.
How do I update my address or e-mail?
To update your address or primary e-mail, log in to your PACER account and click the Maintenance tab in Manage My Account. Secondary email addresses must be added and/or updated through Maintain Your E-Mail located under Utilities in the NextGen CM/ECF System.
NextGen FAQs from e-filers
Additional Help
- For assistance with creating a PACER account, please contact PACER at (800) 676-6856 or visit the PACER website.
- For assistance with your current CM/ECF login and password, or linking your account after the court transitions, contact the court at (859) 514-2252 during normal operating hours.