SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA
Acceptable Use of Information Systems and Resources Policy
Technology Services Division

1.

Introduction.
1.1
Overview. The Court establishes this policy to explain the acceptable use of the
Court’s computer systems and equipment by any authorized users. Use of these systems
and equipment is a privilege, and individuals who are granted this privilege must use
these systems and equipment in an appropriate, ethical and lawful manner. Unauthorized
access is prohibited and all activity, authorized or not, may be monitored and reported to
the appropriate director or proper authorities. Breaches of this policy may result in
disciplinary or other corrective action. Any questions regarding this policy should be
addressed to the Director of the Division of Technology Services.
1.2

Terms. This policy uses the following defined terms:

(a)
Court’s Computer Systems and Equipment. All technology-related hardware,
software, databases and case management systems owned or supported by the Court such
as desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, monitors, printers, scanners, servers,
copiers, video conference units, telephones, mobile devices, flash drives, storage devices
and any other technology-related devices.
(b)
Personal Equipment. Any technology-related equipment or devices owned by a
user and not the Court.
(c)
Service Desk. Communication center providing a single point of contact for
resolution of technology issues, managed by the Division of Technology Services. Users
can contact the Service Desk by email at ServiceDesk@courtswv.gov.
(d)
Users. Court employees and other authorized persons using the Court’s computer
systems and equipment. Other authorized persons include non-Court employees with a
courtswv.gov user account, or other persons pre-approved to access the Court’s computer
systems and equipment.
2.

Acceptable Use.

2.1
Court Business. The Court’s computer systems and equipment are to be used for
Court business. Users must comply with the directives of the Court including the Code
of Judicial Conduct and any Court policies, standards, procedures, contracts and licenses.
Users shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
2.2

Personal Use.

(a)
Except as stated otherwise by this policy, incidental personal use of the Court’s
computer systems and equipment is permitted if the use does not consume more than a
trivial amount of resources that could otherwise be used for Court business, does not
Effective Date: 2019 01-07
Revision Date: 2019 01-07
Review Date:
2019 01-07

 interfere with the productivity of other users, does not interfere with Court business
activities and does not cause distress, moral or legal problems for other users.
(b)

Court email is to be used for Court business exclusively.

(c)
Storing personal data and information unrelated to Court business — such as
documents, photos, music or video — on the Court’s computer systems and equipment is
prohibited.
(d)
Loading personal software on to the Court’s computer systems and equipment is
prohibited without prior authorization by the Division of Technology Services;
unapproved software may be removed without prior notice to the user.
(e)
Personal equipment may not connect to the Court’s network without prior
authorization by the Division of Technology Services. Users may use personal
equipment to access web-based Court applications while not connected to the Court’s
network. Any user who conducts Court business on personal equipment assumes sole
responsibility for the security and confidentiality of Court information.
2.3
No Expectation of Privacy. Users have no expectations of privacy when using
the Court’s computer systems and equipment. Any data or messages created on, stored
within or transmitted by the Court’s computer systems and equipment is the property of
the Court and is subject to access, audit, review, deletion or disclosure by authorized
Court personnel. The Court may monitor use of its computer systems and equipment at
any time, including email, Internet use and any electronically stored information. Users
must cooperate with any search or inspection by the Division of Technology Services.
2.4
User Access. Access to the Court’s computer systems and equipment is granted
by the Division of Technology Services according to each user’s job duties and
responsibilities.
3.

Unacceptable Use.
3.1
General. Users are strictly prohibited from illegal, unauthorized, inappropriate or
disruptive use of the Court’s computer systems and equipment.
3.2
Examples. Some examples of unacceptable use are listed below. This is not an
exclusive list.
(a)
Disruptive or improper use as determined by the Division of Technology Services
that could cause congestion, disruption of normal service or unnecessary additional Court
expense.
(b)

Unauthorized disclosure of confidential or personal information.

(c)
Any use not related to official Supreme Court duties that could cast the Court or
its employees in a negative light, such as the transmission, retrieval, storage or display of
defamatory, obscene, sexist, sexually explicit, racist, violent, offensive, slanderous,
harassing or illegal content.
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 (d)
Hacking or attempting unauthorized entry into any other electronic resource in
violation of the Federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act or any other applicable
federal, state or local law.
(e)
Falsely representing yourself or another person, real or fictional, to acquire
system or resource access, or for any other reason.
(f)
Using access for personal financial gain or to solicit others for activities unrelated
to official Court business, including, but not limited to, solicitations for personal,
political, or religious causes, or to operate or support a personal business.
(g)
Tampering with, circumventing or disabling security mechanisms or access
control measures for the Court’s computer systems and equipment.
(h)
Installing any software on the Court’s computer systems and equipment without
prior authorization of the Division of Technology Services.
(i)
Altering, relocating or removing any hardware or software without prior
authorization of the Division of Technology Services.
(j)
Intentionally destroying, damaging, disrupting or impairing any of the Court’s
computer systems and equipment.
(k)
4.

Violating this policy or any other policy of the Division of Technology Services.

Security and Confidentiality.
4.1
Security. Users are expected to observe basic security measures and must adhere
to the following:
(a)
Do not share your password with any other person. Safeguard your password so
that it cannot be easily discovered by anyone.
(b)
When you step away from your computer, secure it by locking the user account
(Windows + L key) or logging out.
(c)
Users assigned mobile devices such as phones, laptops and tablets must take
adequate precautions to ensure the security of such devices, especially when traveling.
Laptops distributed since September 2018 are configured with encryption that will
protect against unauthorized access to systems.
(d)

All equipment should be kept in a secure environment.

(e)
Any unauthorized changes to data should be reported immediately to your
supervisor and to the Service Desk. This includes any loss of data or programs, whether
electronic or paper.
(f)
Notify the Service Desk immediately if a virus or other infection is suspected on
the Court’s computer systems and equipment.
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 4.2
Confidential Information. Confidential information — such as Social Security
numbers, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers — is stored on the Court’s
computer systems and equipment. Some information regarding parties who appear in
court (such as minors) is also confidential. Access to confidential information is
restricted according to need. Users are expected to safeguard confidential information by
complying with the following measures:
(a)
All Court business must be conducted through the Court’s email and not through
third-party email providers such as Google, Yahoo, etc.
(b)
Accounts must be protected from unauthorized access by ensuring accounts are
not shared or left active and unattended.
(c)
Display screens for computers used to handle confidential information must be
positioned so that individuals who are not authorized to access confidential information
cannot view it easily.
(d)
Passwords, encryption keys and other security-related information must be
entered in such a way that others cannot readily see what is being typed.
5.

Proprietary Material.
(a)
For purposes of this policy, proprietary material includes literature, software and
graphics protected by copyright, trademark, patent or trade secret laws. The Court enters
into legal agreements called licenses to use such proprietary material, usually for a fee.
These licenses related to the Court’s computer systems and equipment are managed by
the Division of Technology Services.
(b)
All use of proprietary material must comply with the terms of the relevant license.
Users may be permitted access to or use of proprietary material such as software but are
not permitted to download or disseminate it for non-Court use. No proprietary
information shall be copied, transmitted, posted or distributed in violation of the Court’s
licenses. Users should not remove trademark or copyright notices from proprietary
material.
(c)
When a user is no longer employed by or affiliated with the Court, all Courtowned hardware, licenses, software and media remain the property of the Court.

6.

Equipment and Data Management.
6.1
Supreme Court Guest Network. Where available, certain individuals such as
vendors or representatives of other state entities, may be provided with access to the
Supreme Court Guest Network, if approved by the Division of Technology Services.
6.2
Internet Access Control. The Court may, at its discretion, restrict or block
access to certain Internet sites and restrict or block the downloading of certain file types
that are likely to cause network service degradation such as streaming video. Court
employees are permitted to view work-related webcasts.

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 6.3
Relocation/Removal of Equipment. Users may not remove the Court’s
computer systems and equipment from Court facilities without prior authorization by the
Division of Technology Services. Users are permitted to remove mobile devices such as
phones, laptops and tablets, except that no such device may leave the continental United
States without prior authorization by the Division of Technology Services.
6.4
Storing and Archiving Data. The Court maintains archival procedures to ensure
the safe retention of electronic data. Archived copies of electronic files and messages are
and remain Court property and may be used by the Court for any business purpose. The
deletion of messages or data does not provide privacy with regard to such messages or
data. Archived data may be maintained indefinitely.
6.5
Data Encryption. Only authorized encryption tools (both software and
hardware) may be used in connection the Court’s computer systems and equipment.

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