The legal profession is a notorious consumer of paper. In fact, it is believed that paper was first created by a Chinese court official in 105 A.D. for business recordings. Courts can also be large consumers of precious woods for courtroom furniture. Some courts have begun to make tentative steps to reducing their impact on forests by implementating both mandatory and voluntary recycled paper requirements for court documents.

Other Documents

DC Bar Public Statement Supporting the Recycled Paper Initiative [Get Acrobat] and Closing the Loop: Leadership in the Legal Community Through Court-Mandated Recycled Paper Usage, The Recycled Paper Initiative Report, DC Bar [Get Acrobat]

Lawyers Turn Leaders in Recycled Paper Purchasing

1999 California Law Offices Paper Waste Reduction Survey--Summary Report

Justice Department to Use Only Recycled Content Copier Paper Press Release

Court Rules on Recycled Paper or Electronic Filing

California Rules of Court: Electronic Filing, Title 3, Rule 981.5, Use of Recycled Paper by All Courts, Title 3, Sec. 989.1, Local Policies on Waste Reduction & Recycling, Appendix 1, Sec. 17.5

Colorado Rev. Stat. Use of Recycled Paper, Sec. 13-1-133

Florida Paper Rule 2.055, Electronic Filing Rule Sec. 2090 [Get Acrobat]

Illinois Supreme Court Rules Size of Papers Filed in the Illinois Courts, Article 1, Rule 10

Minnesota Statutes 2001 Papers to be Submitted on Recycled Paper Sec. 480.0515

Missouri Supreme Court Rules Pleadings and Papers, Rule 19.09

Montana Code Annotated Form of Papers Presented for Filing, Title 25, Chapter 19, Rule 1(b)(5)

New York Rules of the Trial Courts Use of Recycled Paper, Part 215

Ohio Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court Number and Form of Copies, Rule VIII, Sec. 5 (C)

Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure Filing & Service, Rule 1.35 (5)(a)

Pennsylvania Court Rules Filing Legal Papers, Rule 205.1

Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure Motions, Rule 23 (f)(2)

links

Environmental Advocates

Understanding the CA Rules of Court Pertaining to Recycled Paper, State Bar of CA, Env. Law Sec.