Kara Sears
A docket number is a unique identifier assigned to a court case after it is filed. It is used to track the case and typically includes information such as the court, year, case type, and sequence number. Docket numbers can be used to find case law and court documents, which are often published or linked to by third-party websites. These can be found by searching the docket number online or through subscription legal research databases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Assigned | After a case is filed, the court assigns it a docket number |
| Format | A number or letter indicating the court, a two-digit number for the year, the case type (CV/cv for civil cases or CR/cr for criminal cases), a four- or five-digit case number, and the judge's initials |
| Usage | Used to find a case or court order |
| Sources | Westlaw Edge, Bloomberg Law, Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), RECAP Archive, third-party websites |
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What You'll Learn
How to find a case by docket number
A docket number is a court's case number or tracking number. It is assigned to a case by the court after it is filed. The docket lists the judge, parties, and attorneys of record, along with a summary of each document filed, the dates, and the court case number.
To find a case by its docket number, 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. You can register for a PACER account and use the PACER Case Locator if you are unsure which federal court the case was filed in. This database updates at midnight each day.
Alternatively, you can access federal case documents in real-time by logging into PACER if you know the specific court the case was filed in. Case files can also be accessed from public access terminals in the clerk's office of the court where the case was filed.
For academic research purposes, you can use the attached form to request PACER fee exemptions from multiple courts. Individual researchers working on defined scholarly projects can request exemptions in accordance with the EPA fee schedule, provided the request is limited in scope and not for redistribution or commercial purposes.
If you are seeking a fee exemption from a single court and/or for non-research purposes, contact that court directly. You can define your data needs using the Federal Court Cases Integrated Database (IDB), which is provided free of charge by the Federal Judicial Center. The IDB has case data (not documents) for criminal, civil, appellate, and bankruptcy cases, which can help refine your search.
Additionally, Bloomberg Law provides access to selected state court dockets and filings. To determine what dockets are available, go to the "Litigation" drop-down and select "Docket Coverage." Docket Navigator also covers Patent, Copyright, Trademark, Trade Secret, Antitrust, and Securities practice areas. You can request a free academic account by sending an email to [email protected] with your name, email address, and graduation date (for students).
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Docket number composition
A docket number is a unique identifier assigned to a case by a court to make it easier to track. Each court generally has its own system for assigning docket numbers, but they typically include some or all of the following components:
- Court Identifier: The court where the case is filed is often represented by a letter or number. For example, the number "1" in "1:21-cv-5678-MW" indicates the court number within a specific district or jurisdiction.
- Year: The year the case was filed is typically represented by the last two digits of the year (e.g., "21" for 2021). However, some courts may use a four-digit format.
- Case Type: The type of case, such as civil (CV/cv) or criminal (CR/cr), is usually indicated by a letter or abbreviation. For instance, "cv" in "1:21-cv-5678-MW" denotes a civil case.
- Sequence Number: Each case is assigned a unique sequence number within the court's system, which may be randomly generated or based on the order of filing. In the example "1:21-cv-5678-MW", "5678" is the sequence number, indicating it's the 5,678th civil case filed in that court for the year 2021.
- Judge's Initials: The docket number may include the initials of the judge presiding over the case, such as "MW" in "1:21-cv-5678-MW."
It is important to note that the composition of docket numbers can vary across different courts and jurisdictions. While the basic format may be similar, the order and inclusion of elements may differ. For instance, California Supreme and Appeals Court docket numbers are standardised across the state, but each county has its own system with varying formats.
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Third-party websites and docket numbers
Third-party websites often publish or link to docket numbers and court filings. For example, the Turtle Talk Blog frequently posts court filings related to Indian and Tribal law, and the Election Law at Ohio State website posts court filings in major pending election cases. The National Center for State Courts has also compiled a list of state and local court websites, some of which provide public electronic access to their dockets and filings.
However, the authenticity of court documents posted on third-party websites should always be checked against pleadings and rulings available from the court clerk or on official government websites. The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service is the federal court system's official service for electronic public access to federal court records and documents. Users must register for an account and can be charged fees for using PACER, depending on how heavily the user is accessing the service. Case files may also be accessed from the public access terminals in the clerk’s office of the court where the case was filed. Most cases created before 1999 are maintained in paper format only.
Court opinions are available for free on PACER to anyone with an account. Additionally, access to court opinions from many appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts are available for no fee in a text-searchable format through a partnership with the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), consistent with the E-Government Act. When court records and case files are eligible for permanent preservation, they are transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for storage and preservation. These records can be accessed directly from NARA.
Other third-party websites that provide access to dockets and court filings include CourtListener.com, which downloads case law and oral arguments from many jurisdictions on an ongoing basis.
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Docket coverage
To find specific docket information, individuals can utilize online search tools. Westlaw Edge, for instance, offers a global search bar where users can input relevant details, such as the court name or type, to locate specific dockets. Additionally, third-party websites and blogs, such as Turtle Talk Blog for Indian and Tribal law, sometimes publish or link to dockets and court filings, providing additional avenues for accessing docket information.
It is worth noting that while these third-party sources can be convenient, it is essential to verify the authenticity of the information by cross-referencing it with official sources, such as pleadings and rulings available from court clerks or government websites. Furthermore, when searching for a docket, it is important to understand the format of the docket number. Docket numbers typically include indicators for the court, year, case type, and sequence number, which can help narrow down the specific case being searched for.
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Docket filing classification systems
Filing and classification systems are of three main types: alphabetical, numeric, and alphanumeric. Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the information being filed and classified.
Alphabetical Topical Systems
Alphabetical topical systems classify information according to topics, with the topic labels then being arranged in alphabetical order. This system is best used when small amounts of information are involved. When filing personal names, the last name is used as the primary sorter, with first names used only in the case of identical surnames.
Encyclopedia Systems
Encyclopedia filing and classification systems are useful for handling large amounts of information. Information is first broken down by general category, with sub-categories placed in alphabetical order. This allows users to start by looking for the general category and then search within it to find the specific file they need.
Geographic Systems
A subset of the encyclopedia system, geographic systems use major categories that are broken down by location. Users start by choosing the geographic area relevant to their search and then search alphabetically within that topic.
Numeric Systems
Straight numeric filing and classification systems are simple to use as they generally start at the number one and assign each subsequent file the following number. However, this system often requires an index to help users find files and can become congested with high-activity files. Duplex numeric filing systems, on the other hand, can handle large amounts of data as they use several sets of numbers that can correspond to major categories and sub-categories. A very familiar duplex numeric system is the Dewey Decimal system used in libraries.
Alphanumeric Systems
Alphanumeric systems classify information by category in an encyclopedic system but use both letters and numbers to denote categories. This allows for a much greater field of categories than using numbers alone.
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Frequently asked questions
A docket number is a unique identifier assigned to a court case after it is filed. It typically includes information such as the court, year, case type, and sequence number.
A docket number is a specific identifier for an individual case, while a case number can refer to multiple cases with similar characteristics. For example, a docket number may refer to a specific criminal case, while a case number may refer to all criminal cases heard in a particular year.
Finding a court case by its docket number can be done through various legal databases, such as Westlaw Edge, which provide access to case law and court records. Simply use the global search bar and enter the docket number or relevant search terms to locate the case you're looking for.
