Judges of the state's highest court ended a low-key hearing yesterday on public access to court records - especially the fast-moving field of electronic access - by deciding they will deliberate publicly and probably vote on a policy next month.

An 18-member citizens panel recommended making access the same for paper files and electronic records. Advocates say it offers a balance between privacy and broad access, though two of about a dozen speakers warned yesterday of potential problems, including a disproportionate effect on minorities in expanding access to electronic lists that show dropped criminal charges and have mistakes.

The proposal also suggests that the court retain its subscriber-paid phone-in service for electronic access.

It is up to the Court of Appeals, which also has a technology committee looking into system-wide technology needs, to set the policy for state courts.

The seven judges said nothing favoring restricting access, but expressed concern about how to pay for an enhanced electronic database of court records, especially in difficult budgetary times, and how to update or correct mistakes.

Judge Dale R. Cathell said he was having trouble with the idea that the state should pay for a system that helps private investigators, businesses that compile and sell data, news media and other companies if it had no benefit for the courts and general public.

"It could boil down, to me, to dollars and cents. It could be an enormous expense," he said.

This was the second Maryland panel to tackle the issue. A public outcry forced the first panel to back down from its 2000 recommendation to restrict access to electronic records.

State laws vary on issues of electronic access as courts move increasingly toward electronic document filing and paperless files.