Buckle Up For Odyssey Rollout

As Mecklenburg County courts transition to a new digital case management system known as Odyssey, the rental housing industry is bracing for the transition, the good and the bad. What does the industry love about the idea of Odyssey? That it seeks to optimize the existing system, enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, and improve user accessibility. Beginning on Monday, October 9, court records in Mecklenburg County will be searchable online at no-cost to the public, and attorneys and self-represented parties can file court documents electronically. Why is our industry pessimistic about the rollout…the rollout in Lee, Harnett, Johnston, and Wake counties has been anything but seamless.

Odyssey has significantly slowed down operations in high-volume courtrooms where attorneys handling multiple cases and members of the public representing themselves come to quickly resolve traffic tickets, low-level misdemeanors or to get cases continued. Attorney Chas Post in Lee County said, “There's many more steps than there used to be. There's just as much paper if not more paper in the courtroom than there used be, and the workload for not only the District Attorney's office but the clerk's office has doubled."

The Mecklenburg County Clerk’s office is already facing staffing problems and increased workloads. In a letter to The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association, Clerk Chin Gary acknowledged deficits in human capital as a reason for summary ejectment case proceeding. She also noted an exponential uptick in summary ejectment appeals of 223% filed in district court since FY 2021. The question that remains is whether adding a new electronic system onto an already overwhelmed office will be a recipe for success.

Mecklenburg County court officials are working to combat the negative narrative around the transition. Virtual and in-person trainings are being held for civil and criminal attorneys and judicial partners. While this effort is helpful, it’s doubtful to erase all miscommunication and system glitches. Mecklenburg County residents should buckle up for setbacks, system glitches and confusion with Odyssey’s rollout. Optimism is welcome but based on previous experience with surrounding counties, this change comes with delays and frustration.