The Oregon Judicial Information Network, a case management system that provided the public and law enforcement access to court case information and histories, went gently into that good night in Deschutes County last week.

Its more intuitive replacement, the Oregon eCourt Case Information System — also referred to as Odyssey — will be up and running in Deschutes County between June 15 and June 22, according to Trial Court Administrator Jeff Hall.

Deschutes County Circuit Court staff heralded the beginning of the eCourt epoch early Sunday morning in the lobby of the Deschutes County Justice Building.

Over a year of preparation for the “go-live” moment was documented on a calendar pinned to the large bulletin board.

Deschutes County Circuit Presiding Judge Alta Brady read a cheerful ode to Odyssey, lamenting OJIN’s “hot key quirks,” but ending with a quote from retired Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michael Sullivan, who said each day, “just another day in paradise.”

After Brady’s ode, Hall acknowledged there would be mistakes in implementing the new system, which requires various departments of the court to adjust their daily operations.

Once in place, eCourt will allow users to view public documents and a case’s history without the archaic language of OJIN. Users in the past had to plug in specific strings of letters to access statewide criminal histories, for example, and know which numbers to use to search for records.

Meanwhile, attorneys will have more comprehensive access to documents and can file documents electronically. Judges will have access to cases on the docket without having to call up paper records each day.

Until eCourt is fully live, however, there is a “blackout” period when access to updated information on Deschutes County court cases will not be electronically available.

High-priority requests can be fulfilled via email, though there may be delays. The court has begun accepting electronic files from attorneys since the first of the year, which will be mandatory Aug. 31.

Hall has established a “triage” committee to attack any issues that may arise and plans to hold training sessions July 16 and Aug. 25. In a recent letter to the Deschutes County Bar Association, Hall wrote, “the transition to eCourt affects everything that circuit court staff does.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re the first court to hit zero issues,” Hall said in the “War Room” — filled with laptops and buzzing with activity — before the speech. Klamath and Lake counties are also in the midst of the go-live process transition to eCourt.

Finance, records and information technology employees are adjusting to the new procedures, Hall said, benefiting from the lessons learned by other Oregon counties. Sixteen counties have moved to the new system since 2012, including Jefferson and Crook counties, according to the Oregon Judicial Department.

“It’s actually a pleasure to have the court’s interest in bringing the local bar in,” said Dave Rosen, the president of the Deschutes County Bar Association who reported no angst over the transition, in an interview last week. “They brought us in on several committees.”

“Let’s go get ’em, guys,” Hall said at the conclusion of his speech Sunday morning. Fueled by muffins and coffee, court staff scurried off to enter paper records from the last week into the system and prepare current files for electronic entry.

— Reporter: 541-383-0376, cwithycombe@bendbulletin.com