FISMA Secure Document Upload System - User Guide¶

Eastern District of Washington Attorney Document Upload Portal

Documentation Version

This user guide is currently deployed without screenshots. A version with screenshot placeholders is saved in the saved-user-guide-with-placeholders git branch for future reference.

Quick Start Guide¶

Welcome to the FISMA High-compliant Secure Document Upload System. This system allows attorneys registered with the Court's CM/ECF system to securely upload sealed documents for court filing processing.

System Overview¶

Security Level: FISMA High Impact Level Access: Attorneys with CM/ECF registration only Session Timeout: 10 minutes of inactivity Maximum File Size: 75MB per PDF document Supported Format: PDF only

Getting Started¶

First-Time Users¶

If you are new to the Document Upload System:

Register Your Account → Create your secure account using your CM/ECF-registered email address
Set Up Passkey Authentication (Optional) → Enable phishing-resistant authentication for faster, more secure login
Upload Your First Document → Learn how to upload sealed documents with proper case information

Estimated Setup Time: 5-10 minutes

Returning Users¶

Password Login: Use your email and password
Passkey Login: Use your device's biometric authentication (fingerprint, face recognition, or security key)

→ Learn about login methods

Common Tasks¶

Authentication¶

File Upload¶

Security¶

Troubleshooting¶

Email Notifications¶

You will receive automated email notifications for:

✉️ Account Registration - Verification link to complete registration ✉️ Multi-Factor Authentication - One-time verification code for password login ✉️ Password Reset - Secure link to reset your password ✉️ Passkey Registration - Confirmation when a passkey is added ✉️ Upload Confirmation - Receipt of successful document upload

→ View email templates

System Requirements¶

Supported Browsers¶

Chrome/Edge: Version 90 or later (recommended)
Firefox: Version 90 or later
Safari: Version 14 or later

Passkey Requirements¶

Modern browser with WebAuthn support
One of the following:
Biometric device (fingerprint reader, facial recognition)
Hardware security key (YubiKey, etc.)
Platform authenticator (Windows Hello, Touch ID, Face ID)

Network Requirements¶

Secure internet connection (HTTPS required)
Access to court network or approved external access

Important Security Information¶

FISMA High Security Notice¶

This system handles FISMA High Impact Level information. All activity is:

Monitored and Logged: Every action is recorded with full audit trail
Time-Limited: Sessions automatically expire after 10 minutes of inactivity
Encrypted: All data is encrypted at rest and in transit using AES-256-CBC
Access-Controlled: Restricted to CM/ECF-registered attorneys only

⚠️ Unauthorized access is prohibited and will be prosecuted.

Session Security¶

You will receive a 2-minute warning before session timeout
Choose "Extend Session" to continue working
Save your work frequently to avoid data loss
Always log out when finished

→ Learn more about security

Need Help?¶

Clerk's Office Contact¶

Eastern District of Washington Phone: (509) 458-3410 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific Time

For Technical Assistance: Email: ecfinfo@waed.uscourts.gov

CM/ECF Registration¶

Not registered with the Court's CM/ECF system yet?

Apply for CM/ECF Attorney Account →

Document Version¶

Guide Version: 1.0 Last Updated: November 30, 2025 Applies to System Version: 1.0