UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
General Order No. 2026-08
In Re: Application for Exemption from the Electronic Public Access Fees by E. Garrett
West
This matter is before the Court upon the application and request by E. Garrett West for
exemption from the fees imposed by the Electronic Public Access fee schedule adopted by the
Judicial Conference of the United States Courts.
The Court finds that E. Garrett West, an individual associated with a non-profit research
institution, falls within the class of users listed in the fee schedule as being eligible for a fee
exemption. Additionally, Mr. West has demonstrated that an exemption is necessary in order to
avoid unreasonable burdens and to promote public access to information. Accordingly, Mr. West
shall be exempt from the payment of fees for access via PACER to the electronic case files
maintained in this court, to the extent such use is incurred in the course of conducting a research
study aimed at simplifying the calculation of attorney’s fees in cases with fee-shifting provisions.
Mr. West shall not be exempt from the payment of fees incurred in connection with other uses of
the PACER system in this court. Additionally, the following limitations apply:
I. this fee exemption applies only to E. Garrett West, PACER Account No. 7421420, and is
valid only for the purposes stated above;
II. this fee exemption applies only to the electronic case files of this court that are available
through the PACER system;
III. by accepting this exemption, E. Garrett West agrees not to sell for profit any data
obtained as a result of receiving this exemption;
IV. E. Garrett West is prohibited from transferring any data obtained as a result of receiving
this exemption, including redistribution via internet-based databases;
V. this exemption is valid from March 5, 2026 through March 5, 2027.
This exemption may be revoked at the discretion of the Court at any time. A copy of this Order
shall be sent to the PACER Service Center.
SO ORDERED on April 29, 2026.
/s/ Holly A. Brady__________________
Chief Judge, United States District Court
Northern District of Indiana
