Court Case Lookup
A court case is a legal proceeding between two disputing parties who have brought their case to a law court for litigation. A court case begins with the filing of the case by the plaintiff (the one that reports the case), and after it has been processed, the summoning or arrest (for criminal cases) of the defendant (the one being reported).
A United States court case lookup refers to the steps taken by any individual to access information pertaining to a particular court case in the United States Federal Courts. Court records are typically deemed public information unless otherwise specified by law or judicial order.
The United States federal court system has three main levels:
- The District Courts which are otherwise known as the trial courts
- The Courts of Appeals which are also referred to as the Circuit Courts
- The Supreme Court which is the final level of appeal in the federal court system
Generally, the types of cases that are heard in the United States federal courts are civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases. The district courts which are the general trial courts for the federal court system have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. When these cases have been heard, if the outcome is not satisfactory to either of the case parties, it can be appealed in one of the 12 federal circuit courts that have been divided into regions. The highest court in the United States judicial system is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court can decide appeals on any case filed in a federal court, or in a state court but dealing with federal law.
What is a Court Case?
A court case in the United States is a legal process that takes place in a federal court, in order to resolve a dispute that has taken place within the federal jurisdiction. The activities of court cases in the United States are overseen by the United States judicial system.
The United States judicial system is the system of government that has been structured to ensure that all court cases brought forward are handled effectively, efficiently, and according to stipulated laws.
Are Court Cases Public Record?
The United States Freedom of Information Act provides anyone with the right to request and access any record in the possession of any federal agency within the nation. The public holds the right to request for information on court cases that have been filed and heard in any court within the nation. The requester also holds the right to request this record without explaining to the agency what the information is needed for.
However, there are some records that have been withheld from public disclosure. This may include records containing sensitive juvenile information.
Can I Get Court Case Documents Online?
Yes, United States court case documents can be accessed online. The federal courts of the United States provide an online search for cases heard, and the documents used during the litigation of the case are usually included in the search results.
The documents can either be accessed online through the electronic management system that runs a search through all the federal courts, or requesters can also search through the search tools provided by the court where the case was filed. For instance, searching for the case documents of a case that took place in the Supreme Court can be done by looking through the case’s docket. The Supreme Court docket contains a list of all the filings and rulings that pertains to a case, and it also includes links to electronic images of most filings submitted to the court after November 13, 2017.
How to Conduct a Court Search by Name
Conducting a case search by name in the United States can be done through the webpage of the court where the case was heard. However, not all courts have this option, so there is a unified system that has been provided by the United States judicial system to ensure that individuals get access to the information they need.
The Public Access To Court Electronic Records online search tool that can be used by individuals to search for court cases by the party names. To conduct a case search using the PACER search tool, requesters will be required to register with the system. Requesters will need to provide their names, email address, and contact information in order to register with PACER.
When the registration is complete, requesters will be provided with the option of conducting a case search using the case number, date filed, or the names of the parties involved in the case.
The system charges $0.10 per page and is capped at $3.00 for single documents and case specific reports that are more than 30 pages.
This fee can be paid using VisaCard, MasterCard, American Express Card, and Discover Network.
What is a Court Case Number?
A court case number is a unique set of numbers and letters that is assigned to a case by the court clerk. The clerk of the court where the case was filed is responsible for the maintenance and handling of all court case information, and as such is responsible for assignment case numbers to the respective cases. The case number allows easy access to case information in the federal system. At first glance, the case number can be used to provide the public with following information:
- The year the case was filed
- The office in which the case was filed
- The presiding judicial officer(s) over the case
The case number is usually assigned to cases after a certain format. This format largely depends on the court where the case was filed. For instance, cases filed in the US District Court typically appear in one of two formats - CV 17-00010-PHX-DJH or 2:17cv00010
The 2 case number examples above represent the same case, and it can be explained as follows:
- The acronym ‘cv’ refers to the case type, which in this case will be civil. If the case were to be a criminal case, it would be identified with ‘cr’
- The number 17 represents the year the case was filed
- The number 00010 represents the chronological number of the case
- ‘PHX’ or ‘2’ represents the division, which in this case is Phoenix. Other divisional office identifiers are Prescott (PCT or 3), Tucson (TUC or 4)
How to Conduct a Case Number Search
All case information including the case number assigned to cases litigated in a United States federal court is maintained by the clerk of the courthouse where the case was filed. It is usually advised that every case information related search should begin at the office of the clerk.
To conduct a case number search in the United States, the requester will need to visit the office of the clerk of the courthouse where the case was filed. Most cases have their records kept at the clerk’s office, and they are usually kept in a way that makes them accessible. To aid the search, the individual will be required to provide some information about the case, this may range from the names of the case parties, the names of the case attorney(s), or the date the case was filed. Some courts conduct the search for free while others may charge a fee.
The case number search can also be conducted online using the Public Access To Electronic Records tool. To conduct the case number search using this tool, the requester will need to search for the case using one of the other provided means, for example party name, or date the case was filed. Therefore, to conduct the search electronically, it is equally important that the requester has some information on the case to aid the search. When the search is complete, the case number assigned to the case is usually included in the search results.
Individuals can also contact the court clerk and find out if the court grants a case number search via mail. Not all courts receive records request applications via mail, so individuals will need to make enquiries before sending their mail.
How to Remove Court Cases From Public Record
Removing cases from public record in state courts may be possible, but not with federal courts. Pursuant to 18 United States Code Section 3607, only individuals convicted of minor offense under the Controlled Substance Act can have their records expunged. For this to be made effective, the defendant needs to have met certain criteria
- They must have no prior record of violating federal or state laws on controlled substances
- If the defendant was less than 21 years old at the time when the offense was committed
This category of offenders is relatively small when compared to the number of crimes and convictions, which means that most individuals convicted for committing federal crimes usually do not qualify for expungement.
How to Check a Court Case Status
The status of a case basically shows whether a case has been decided and is closed, or if the case is still ongoing. Requesters can either check the status of a federal case in person or online. To conduct the search in person, the requester will need to visit the office of the clerk where the case was filed, and request to search for the status of a case. The court clerk will typically request some information on the case to aid the search of the case status.
To search for the case status online, individuals can make use of any of the electronic search tools that have been made available by either the court or the United States judicial system. Typically when a case search is conducted, the case status is included in the generated search results.
Requesters can also obtain information on a case status by searching through the case’s court docket. Court dockets are documents that contain a summary of the history and filings of a case, and the information included in the court docket also includes the case status.
How to Find Supreme Court Decisions
Court decisions otherwise known as court opinions typically set out the court’s judgment and its reasoning. The most well-known court opinions are those released in cases in which the court has heard an oral argument.
Requesters can search through the Supreme Court Opinions by looking through the catalog displayed on the court’s website. By selecting the year and month the case was filed, the requester will be provided with all opinions published by the Supreme Court during that period.
Alternatively, requesters can use the national database that provides information on all federal cases, irrespective of the court. The individual will only need to select the court type, the court where the case was litigated, and the year it was litigated. This information provides the record of all opinions published within that period.
What Percentage of Court Cases Go to Trial?
The United States District Court report released in 2018 shows that only about 2% of the total number of cases filed in the federal court ever get to trial. This shows that 98% of the total number of cases were settled out of court. This was either due to the defendant pleading guilty or the dismissal of the case.
This statistic includes defendants that were charged with felonies, serious misdemeanors, and some petty offenses.
How Long Does a Court Case Last?
The United States federal courts do not have a stipulated time to fully bring a case to resolution. The length of time a case lasts in the United States is dependent on the case type, and the complexity of the case. For instance, a basic civil dispute between a landlord and his tenant is not expected to last as long as a criminal case where there are several defendants and witnesses involved.
How to File a Case in Court
Filing a case is usually the first step to a legal proceeding, and it can be done by either the plaintiff or their lawyer. The steps taken to file a case in the United States is dependent on the type of case being filed.
Civil cases can typically be filed by anyone that finds the reason to. To file a civil case, the plaintiff will first need to find out the court that has jurisdiction over the case they intend to file, and obtain their filing application form. In this form, they will include the details of the defendant, their reasons for filing the case, and what they want done. Pursuant to Title 28, U.S Code, Section 1914, parties instituting a civil action are required to pay a fee before the case can be filed. Individuals may also submit their filing application in forma pauperis, which means that the plaintiff is indigent and cannot afford to pay the filing fees.
However, individuals cannot file criminal cases. Only the government has the authority to file a criminal case, and it is usually done through the United States attorney’s office in coordination with a law enforcement agency.
The arrival of the PACER system also brought a new means of case filing, as the electronic system can also be used to file cases online using the Case Management/Electronic Case Files option. The CM/ECF system is the federal judiciary’s system that allows case documents to be filed with a court online. The individual will only be required to register with the PACER system in order to get started.
What Does It Mean if a Court Case Was Resolved Before the Trial Date?
There are court cases in the United States where the case may be resolved before the trial date. This kind of occurrence largely takes place during the pretrial phase of a legal proceeding, and it may be caused by one of the following:
- The defendant pleading guilty. Before the case proceeding commences, the defendant is usually given the chance to say if they are guilty or not. The case is immediately closed if the defendant pleads guilty.
- If a motion to dismiss filed by either of the case parties is granted by the presiding judicial officer. Motions to dismiss are typically filed if the filing party believes the court lacks jurisdiction to decide the case, the process was defective, the complaint does not state a claim that is deemed enforceable by law, or the plaintiff fails to show a connection to any harm from the subject matter of the lawsuit.
- If a motion for summary judgment filed by either of the case parties is granted by the presiding officer. The motion for summary judgment is a motion filed in order to get the judge all, or part of a case on two grounds - there are no facts that require trial, or the law favors a specific decision.
- If a settlement is reached by the disputing parties.
When any of the above-listed conditions are met, the case is closed and there will be no trial or hearing.
