But Friedman said the Justice website is so cumbersome to search that it severely restricts what information can be obtained and how the information can be used. A copy of the raw data would allow queries and analysis that can’t be done on the website, he argued.

His motive is to investigate the performance of the state’s judges, in particular how they handle child custody cases, Friedman said. But the data could be used for an endless variety of searches that would provide greater scrutiny and understanding of the judicial branch.

He said his request does not include juvenile or other records considered confidential by the courts.

“My goal is to not sell the data, my goal is to give the data away,” said Friedman, who is representing himself in the lawsuit, although he does not have a law degree.

Friedman filed a request for the data in May with Court Administrator Corey Steel under the Nebraska public records law. He sued the next month, after Steel declined to release database information that included the master index, tables, schemas and sequences.