The rule, set to go into effect June 10, would prohibit any records beyond bare-bones court dockets from being posted online. Trying to address a growing protest, Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice James R. Winchester has told lawmakers there is time to refine the new rules.

Winchester has sent lawmakers a letter of explanation on Thursday, the same day Coffee labeled the rules "a little bit of an overreaction."

The rule also would equire court clerks, who apparently pushed for new rules, not to include Social Security numbers, dates of birth, names of minor children and financial and taxpayer account numbers. Some clerks worried that online availability of pleadings could lead to identity theft, a genuine concern. But no instances could be cited where that had occurred.

Coffee correctly pointed out that withholding Social Security numbers makes sense. But the new rule wouldn't stop someone from obtaining information from a pleading at the courthouse.

Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association, said, "there's a lot of positive values to having these records available to the common man without having to go to the courthouse. If you think someone has a lawsuit in Harmon County, you are going to have to drive to Hollis and get in line at the courthouse."

Judging from reaction so far we suspect these new rules are about to be tweaked.