Electronic filing revolutionized the federal judiciary more than a decade ago. Next month, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will join a growing number of courts conquering the final frontier: e-filing to open new cases.

As of July 1, the court will make e-filing mandatory to open almost all new civil cases. The new system, which has been in place on a voluntary basis since March, is a natural progression for the court, said Chief Judge Royce Lamberth.