ORANGE, Calif. — The Orange County Superior Court launched an e-filing program for criminal cases on May 22, giving defense attorneys a new way to file documents without setting foot in a courthouse.

The new Criminal Defense Attorney Portal, known as CDAP, allows attorneys to electronically submit motions, petitions, and responses. Previously, those filings required an in-person trip to the clerk’s office. Other documents will still go through standard filing channels.

The court framed the rollout as part of a broader push to modernize operations even as budgets shrink.

“This program is designed to increase access and address immediate needs in Criminal Operations,” said Presiding Judge Sheila F. Hanson. “We strive to serve our stakeholders and the legal community of Orange County by expanding the digital filing options, reducing reliance on in-person filings, and improving overall efficiency while broader and long-term system enhancements continue to be developed.”

The court described the launch as a phased approach, with longer-term system upgrades still in development. For now, the portal gives criminal defense attorneys a faster, more convenient option for routine filings — a modest but practical step forward for a court system under fiscal pressure.

Courts across most of the United States now have some form of e‑filing, and dozens of state trial court systems (and many individual counties) have launched e‑filing programs that include criminal cases, not just civil. As of December 2024, 36 U.S. states, territories, and D.C. had statewide e‑filing portals for general‑jurisdiction trial courts.

Sheila F. Hanson is the presiding judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, beginning a two‑year term on January 1, 2026, after being elected by her colleagues in an uncontested vote. She has served on the Orange County Superior Court since first being elected in November 2006 and immediately appointed to the bench by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, bringing nearly two decades of judicial experience to one of the state’s largest trial courts. Before becoming presiding judge, she was assistant presiding judge, chaired the court’s Finance Committee, and previously led its technology initiatives, including work on new case management systems and broader innovation efforts. Hanson also chairs the California Judicial Council’s Information Technology Advisory Committee and has served on the Executive Committee of the California Judges Association, reflecting a statewide role in court tech and governance.