Keith Mack
There are several ways to find court cases by law broken. One way is to use electronic databases such as Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), which provides access to federal court cases. Alternatively, court websites often have online services that allow users to search for cases by party name or conduct basic searches for case information. For state-specific cases, such as those in Ohio, online resources like Lexis and Westlaw can be used to search by party name, citation, or keyword. Additionally, print resources are available at law libraries, and court records can be accessed directly from the courthouse or clerk's office, although some case information may be restricted to protect privacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Court case lookup methods | Online, via telephone, in-person |
| Online lookup methods | Court websites, PACER, Lexis, Westlaw, Google Scholar, Legal Databases |
| Information available online | Basic information like the name of the parties, what documents have been filed, and whether there are any court dates |
| Information available via telephone | Basic case information through the Voice Case Information System |
| In-person information retrieval | Visit the courthouse to access case files from public access terminals or court clerks |
| Court cases by U.S. state | Ohio, California |
| Court cases by type | Criminal, civil, appellate, bankruptcy, divorce, eviction, juvenile, tax |
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What You'll Learn
- Search online for basic information, like party names, documents filed, and court dates
- Visit the courthouse to access case files and records
- Use fee-based services like Lexis and Westlaw to search by party name
- Contact the court clerk for basic information over the phone
- Search the Federal Court Cases Integrated Database (IDB) for criminal, civil, appellate, and bankruptcy cases
Search online for basic information, like party names, documents filed, and court dates
When searching for court cases and related information online, there are several avenues you can explore. Many courts allow you to look up court cases online to access basic information, such as the names of the involved parties, documents filed, and court dates. County courts maintain all court records, and most courts have a designated section on their website for "online services" or something similar. Here, you can find out if you can search for a court case online and what types of records are accessible. It is important to note that not all types of records are available online due to privacy concerns. For instance, divorce, criminal, adoption, and juvenile court records are often confidential and may have limited information available to the public.
If the case information is not available online, you can try contacting the court clerk or visiting the courthouse to request information about the case. Court clerks may be able to provide basic information over the phone, such as scheduled court dates or whether documents have been filed. Additionally, you can access case records at the courthouse, either on a court computer or through public access terminals. These terminals may charge a fee for printing, typically around 10 cents per page.
Federal case files are often maintained electronically and can be accessed through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. PACER allows individuals with an account to search for and locate federal court case and docket information. It is worth noting that PACER updates its database daily at midnight, ensuring real-time access to federal case documents. If you are unsure which specific federal court a case was filed in, you can use the PACER Case Locator to conduct a nationwide search.
For jury duty, traffic tickets, or local court information, you can refer to your superior court's website. Additionally, bankruptcy courts have a telephone information system known as the Voice Case Information System, which provides 24/7 access to basic case information through a touch-tone phone.
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Visit the courthouse to access case files and records
If you are unable to find the information you need online, you can visit the courthouse where the case was filed to access case files and records. This is often necessary for cases where privacy is a concern, such as divorce, child custody, civil harassment, and criminal cases. These records are typically stored electronically and can be viewed on a computer at the courthouse for free, although there may be a fee for printing.
In some cases, you may be able to obtain basic case information over the phone from a court clerk, such as court dates or whether something has been filed. However, for more detailed information, visiting the courthouse in person is usually required.
When visiting a federal courthouse, members of the public should be prepared to pass through security measures, including metal detectors and additional screening by court security officers. It is also important to note that any form of photography, broadcasting, or audio recording in the courtroom during judicial proceedings is prohibited.
Additionally, keep in mind that not all court cases are available to the public. Certain records within a case file may be confidential or sealed by a court order. Your ability to access specific case records may depend on your relationship to the case, with parties to a case typically having full access to those case records.
By visiting the courthouse, you can access case files and records, either electronically or in paper format, and obtain the information you need, subject to any privacy restrictions that may apply.
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Use fee-based services like Lexis and Westlaw to search by party name
Westlaw and LexisNexis have long been staples of the legal research ecosystem. They are fee-based services that provide foundational starting points for legal research. Westlaw and LexisNexis also offer advanced search options that allow users to search by party name.
To search by party name on Westlaw, go to the homepage and select "Cases", then pick the relevant jurisdiction. Click on the Advanced link to the right of the search bar, which will give you a Party Name field. Enter the name of the party into this field. This will provide more relevant results than simply using the search bar, as it will only retrieve cases where the name was used for a party, rather than just mentioned in the text.
Lexis Advance also allows users to search by party name. Simply type the name or names that you know into the search box on the homepage. You can also select your case's jurisdiction if you know it. Some cases will be automatically recognised, and you will see a pull-down menu with suggested case citations. You can then narrow your search using the "Filters" option to the right of the text entry field. This allows you to filter by jurisdiction, category of material, practice area, or topic.
It is worth noting that there are other fee-based services that can be used to search for court cases by party name, such as Google Scholar, Ravel, and Bloomberg Law.
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Contact the court clerk for basic information over the phone
If you are looking for information on a court case, you can contact the clerk's office at the court where the case was handled. Basic case information may be available over the phone. In California, you can look up basic information online, such as the name of the parties, what documents have been filed, and whether there are any court dates. If this information is not available online, you can contact the court clerk, who may be able to tell you basic information over the phone, such as when a court date is scheduled or if something has been filed.
In Florida, contact information for the clerks of court is available at www.flclerks.com. Here, you will find trial court clerks' phone numbers, street addresses, and website addresses. In California, contact information for all courts can be found here.
If you are seeking information on a case older than 120 days, you may consider visiting your local law library, which should have access to computer-assisted research systems. You may also be able to get help from your court's family law facilitator, free of charge. If the family law facilitator cannot help you, they may be able to refer you to someone in your county that can help you.
Please note that some court records are not available online to protect privacy. For example, you can only find limited information about divorce or criminal cases on a court's website. Case records are available at the courthouse.
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Search the Federal Court Cases Integrated Database (IDB) for criminal, civil, appellate, and bankruptcy cases
The Federal Court Cases Integrated Database (IDB) is provided free of charge by the Federal Judicial Center. The IDB contains case data (but not documents) for criminal, civil, appellate, and bankruptcy cases. The database covers cases filed and terminated in the federal court system from 1979 to the present. It allows for the facilitation of multiyear data analyses and the linking of cases from the district to the appellate level.
To search for a specific federal court case, you can use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. PACER allows anyone with an account to search and locate appellate, district, and bankruptcy court cases and docket information. Case files can also be accessed from the public access terminals in the clerk's office of the court where the case was filed. If you are unsure which specific federal court the case was filed in, you can use the PACER Case Locator to conduct a nationwide search. PACER updates its database daily at midnight.
Additionally, all bankruptcy courts have a telephone information system called the Voice Case Information System, which enables callers to obtain basic case information through a touch-tone phone. This service is free and available 24 hours a day. Court opinions are also available for free on PACER to anyone with an account.
For information on accessing opinions and case-related documents for the Supreme Court of the United States, you can refer to the court's website or contact the PACER Service Center at [email protected] or (800) 676-6856.
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Frequently asked questions
Many courts allow you to look up court cases online to find basic information such as the name of the parties, court dates, and documents filed. You can also search for cases by party name on fee-based services such as Lexis and Westlaw. Additionally, court websites may have a name-searchable feature.
Federal case files are maintained electronically and are available through the internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. Anyone with an account can search and locate appellate, district, and bankruptcy court cases and docket information.
Each state has its own judicial system that includes trial and appellate courts. The highest court in each state is often referred to as the "supreme" court. State court cases can be found on the specific state court's website or through resources provided by the state's law library.
Case law, also known as precedent or common law, refers to prior judicial decisions that guide judges in deciding issues. To find a case by case law, you can consult annotated copies of statutes or rules, or search on databases such as Lexis, Westlaw, Shepard's, Keycite, or B-cite.
