> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cottfile.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cottfile.com/judge-guide/overview.md). # Overview — Your Inbox When you sign in, the judge portal opens to your **Inbox** -- the central place where you receive and manage filings that need your attention. ## Sidebar Navigation The sidebar on the left gives you quick access to: * **Inbox** -- your main workspace for filings and signed history * **Profile** -- your saved signature, default signing destination, and email notification settings ## How Filings Reach You Clerks route filings to you after their initial review. When a clerk sends a filing your way, it appears in your inbox automatically. The clerk may attach a **routing note** with context or instructions for you. ## Dashboard and Filter Cards At the top of the page, you will see a welcome message with your name. Below it, three quick-filter cards let you narrow the Inbox at a glance. Click a card to toggle that filter on or off: * **Priority** -- filings flagged Urgent or High * **Unread** -- filings you have not opened yet * **Last 24 hours** -- filings that arrived in the past day Each card shows a count for how many filings match. {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** The judge portal landing page -- the welcome message and the three quick-filter cards (Priority, Unread, Last 24 hours), clicking a card to filter the inbox and clicking again to clear it. {% endhint %} ## Your Inbox The inbox has three tabs: * **Inbox** -- filings waiting for your review and signature. These have the status "With Judge." * **Signed** -- filings you have already signed. This tab serves as your history and stays accessible even after the clerk records the filing. * **Returned** -- filings you returned or denied to the clerk. This is a lasting record of your return/deny actions, each row showing the action taken and the reason. Each tab shows a count badge so you can see at a glance how many items are in each section. ## What You See for Each Filing Every row in the Inbox table displays: | Column | What it shows | | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Case #** | The case number. Sortable | | **Case** | The case title (e.g., "Smith v. Jones"). Unread filings appear bold | | **Parish** | The parish the filing belongs to. Only shown if you serve more than one parish | | **For** | Which judge the filing is addressed to. Shown for judicial staff and anyone handling more than one judge's inbox | | **Type** | The lead document type (e.g., Order, Motion) | | **Message** | An icon when the clerk attached a routing note. Hover to read it | | **Notes** | How many chambers notes are on the filing | | **Pages** | The total page count | | **Sent By** | Who routed the filing to you | | **Age** | How long ago the filing arrived. Sortable | In the **Signed** tab, the columns are **Case**, **Type**, **Status**, **Docs**, and **Signed** -- showing how long ago you signed the filing. In the **Returned** tab, the columns are **Case**, **Type**, **Action** (Returned or Denied), **Reason**, and **Returned** -- when you sent it back. ## Search and Filter You can narrow down filings using the tools in the toolbar: * **Search** -- type a case title, case number, or filing number to find a specific item * **Filter** -- open the filter panel to narrow by document type or filer name Active filters appear as removable pills below the toolbar. Use "Clear all" in the filter panel to reset. {% hint style="info" %} **📹 GIF:** Using the search and filter tools in the judge inbox -- typing a case number in the search field, then opening the filter panel to narrow by document type, showing filter pills appearing below the toolbar. {% endhint %} ## Pagination If you have more filings than fit on one screen, the inbox table paginates automatically. Use the page controls at the bottom of the table to move between pages. The total count is shown in each tab's badge. ## Opening a Filing Click any row in the inbox table to open the filing in the review screen, where you can read the documents, mark them up if needed, and sign, return, or deny the filing. {% hint style="info" %} Filings only appear in your inbox if a clerk has routed them to you. If you expect a filing and do not see it, contact your clerk's office. {% endhint %} ## Your Profile Open **Profile** from the sidebar to manage three things that shape your signing workflow. ### Saved Signature Your saved signature appears here once you have saved one. You save a signature from inside the sign dialog by checking **"Save this signature for future use"** (or **"Replace saved signature with this one"** if you already have one). A saved signature means you do not have to draw or upload again on every filing -- and it is required before you can deny a filing with a DENIED stamp. ### After Signing, Send Filings To The **"After signing, send filings to"** card sets your default destination for signed filings. Two options: * **My judicial staff — for final edits** -- signed filings go to your linked judicial staff, who finish any edits and release the filing to the clerk's office. * **The clerk's office — skip staff review** -- signed filings return straight to the clerk's queue. Your choice saves as soon as you select it -- there is no Save button. * If you have linked judicial staff, your default is **"Pre-selected in the sign dialog. You can still change it on any individual filing."** * If you have no linked staff, the card explains: **"You have no linked judicial staff, so signed filings always return to the clerk's office. This choice takes effect once staff are linked to you."** {% hint style="info" %} Judicial staff are linked to you by a court administrator on the Users page -- you cannot link staff yourself. See [Working with Judicial Staff](/judge-guide/judicial-staff.md). {% endhint %} ### Email Notifications The **Email Notifications** section controls which events are emailed to you. These settings only affect email; your in-app notifications are unchanged. There is one toggle: * **Filing assigned to me** -- "When a filing is assigned or routed to you for review." On by default. This covers the email the clerk's **Send to Judge** action triggers. Click **Save preferences** to apply any change. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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