United States Court Cases
Info
About judyrecords
judyrecords is a 100% free nationwide search engine that lets you instantly search hundreds of millions of United States court cases and lawsuits. judyrecords has over 100x more cases than Google Scholar and 10x more cases than PACER, the official case management system of the United States federal judiciary. As of Dec 2021, judyrecords now features free full-text search of all United States patents from 1/1/1976 to 11/10/2021 — over 7.9 million patents in total.
Original Note: judyrecords was recently mentioned in this press release (2/26), which was found after this article was published. After seeing this, CA State Bar disciplinary records have already been removed from the index, including those intended to have been published as well. These records were all (confidential & non-confidential) previously publicly available at https://discipline.calbar.ca.gov (now offline). Additionally, I reached out directly to the email in the press release to address the issue and offered to help as appropriate. After checking, I have neither been attempted to be contacted directly or indirectly about this matter yet, although issue was mentioned as being discovered on the 24th. It's possible efforts to contact have been made, but I haven't seen any yet. Update (2/26 11:50PM CT): I also contacted web host to inform them of the issue and ask about if/what time they have received any communication about this issue. Update (2/27 1:22AM CT): Web host responded that after verification, no such issues have been reported. Update (2/27 11:30AM CT): CA State Bar updated their press release to indicate the removal of the records as noted above. Update (2/27 4:45PM CT): CA State Bar has reached out in writing to discuss the issue. Update (2/27 11:05PM CT): Accepted an invite to discuss the issue. Tentatively, the number of affected cases is less than 1,000. Update (2/28 8:40PM CT): CA State Bar has published an update here (2/28 update). Update (3/1 12:30PM CT): Out of an abundance of caution, the search function is disabled while any possible case access issues are resolved. Additionally, direct access to cases of the affected case management system have been disabled. Update (3/2 10:00PM CT): CA State Bar has published a noteworthy update here (3/2 update). Update (3/3 11:45PM CT): No updates for today. Update (3/4 6:15PM CT): Expect to have an update Monday. Update (3/7 3:20PM CT): Expect to have an update tomorrow now (Tues) but a lot of positive movement happening. Update (3/8 4:10PM CT): Continued positive movement. Expect to have an update later tonight or tomorrow (Wed) now. Update (3/9 5:00PM CT): There have been significant steps in collaboration with Tyler Technologies and the State Bar of California over the last week. I believe that Cal Bar will be releasing more detailed information soon, but anticipate that the number of affected cases will be relatively close to my original estimate of < 1,000. In working with Tyler Technologies, we have identified a subset of portals that may be similarly impacted, and judyrecords has saved case identifiers that will allow cross-referencing between systems. Together, we have tentatively identified a process that will allow answering questions about which non-public records may have been exposed. The way in which non-public case data had been downloaded by judyrecords has been shared fully, openly, and discussed with Tyler for about a week (since last Thursday). At this point, I have let them know that I am asking them to take a public position on whether they believe, don't believe, or are undecided about whether non-public cases were accessed inadvertently / unintentionally by the end of the day tomorrow, and I have also let them know I intend to collaborate fully as we have discussed/agreed regardless of the position they take. It is important to me that if there is any belief or any question whatsoever as to whether the non-public case data was accessed intentionally, that I make my position known openly and clearly that the access to non-public cases was inadvertent and not intentional in any way. Update (3/10 6:48PM CT): I am working to get the site back online for general access, minus affected data sources, as well as a separate page for this issue. Update (3/11 2:50PM CT): Tyler Technologies has put up a page for this issue here. Update (3/11 4:30PM CT): CA State Bar has published an update here (3/10 update). Related here here, and here. Also, in the interest of transparency and clarity, the article leading me to disable search and certain case access on 3/1 here. I'll be addressing the issues raised soon and provide updates. Related here. Update (3/14 11:30AM CT): General access will be restored this week, minus affected data sources. A page will be available by the end of the week here. Update (3/14 7:25PM CT): CA State Bar has published an update here (3/14 update). Update (3/16 8:15AM CT): CA State Bar has published an update here (3/15 update). They have re-enabled their attorney discipline portal. Update (3/18 3:02PM CT): What Happened With Tyler Technologies is now available here. I'm going to push out restoring general access to at least next week. Update (3/20 10:15AM CT): Updated What Happened With Tyler Technologies to add Q&A here.
Extended searches The first 500K results are displayed instead of just the first 2K.
- murder - 757K cases
- fraud - 1.7 million cases
- burglary - 3.4 million cases
- assault - 7.3 million cases
Downloadable datasets
- All Digitized Texas Appeals Court Cases Since 1900 (download Kaggle dataset)
Select upcoming datasources
- US Tax Court
- Minnesota Appeals Courts
Search tips
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Trigger name matching
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Strict name matching (name + 3 commas)
- first middle last,,,
- first m last,,,
- first last,,,
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Lenient name matching (name + 2 commas)
- first middle last,,
- first m last,,
- first last,,
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Trying strict then lenient matching each using a full middle name often produces the most useful results.
- 1st - donald john trump,,,
- 2nd - donald john trump,,
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If extra filtering is needed, additional qualifiers may be specified after the name part.
- donald j trump,, texas
- barack obama,, ("affordable care act" OR "aca")
- Sometimes both modes will produce the same results.
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Strict name matching (name + 3 commas)
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Exact phrase
- "economic loss rule"
- "46.2-806"
- "donald j trump"
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Exact phrase proximity
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"donald j trump"~4 - allow those terms to be up to 4 words out of order.
- Matches "donald j trump" but also "trump donald j".
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"trump casino"~5
- Search for trump close to the word casino.
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"donald j trump"~4 - allow those terms to be up to 4 words out of order.
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Exclude
- "donald trump" -florida
- cnn.com -patent (exclude patents)
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AND/OR/NOT/()
- "summary judgment" AND "employment discrimination"
- ("donald j trump"~4) OR ("donald john trump"~4) OR ("donald trump"~3)
- AND/OR/NOT must be uppercase.
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AND/OR/NOT should generally be used with parentheses to ensure you get the expected results.
- For example, (donald trump) OR (paul manafort) will produce the expected results. donald trump OR paul manafort will not, and will be logically interpreted as donald AND (trump OR paul) AND manafort, rather than the expected (donald AND trump) OR (paul AND manafort).
- Combine with exact phrase proximity for better results: ("donald trump"~3) OR ("paul manafort"~3)
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AND is the default operator implicitly used between terms.
- For example, ("donald trump"~3) AND ("paul manafort"~3) is the same thing as "donald trump"~3 "paul manafort"~3.
Case count log
2020-08-13 - 364.4 million/launch
2020-08-19 - 377.1 million
2020-08-20 - 379.5 million
2020-08-26 - 393.2 million
2020-09-24 - 397.3 million
2020-09-26 - 402.1 million
2020-09-27 - 404.4 million
2020-09-28 - 409.2 million
2020-09-30 - 409.8 million
2020-10-02 - 410.6 million
2020-10-05 - 413.6 million
2020-10-16 - 418.9 million
2020-10-28 - 419.3 million
2020-11-05 - 426.6 million
2020-11-16 - 435.4 million
2020-11-18 - 439.8 million
2020-12-02 - 440.3 million
2020-12-03 - 441.1 million
2020-12-05 - 444.0 million
2020-12-07 - 446.3 million
2020-12-09 - 448.4 million
2020-12-10 - 449.0 million
2020-12-12 - 449.4 million
2020-12-14 - 451.6 million
2020-12-15 - 453.2 million
2020-12-18 - 464.4 million
2021-01-09 - 477.8 million
2021-02-23 - 480.7 million
2021-02-25 - 480.9 million
2021-02-26 - 481.3 million
2021-02-27 - 481.5 million
2021-03-22 - 485.6 million
2021-03-23 - 487.6 million
2021-03-24 - 489.3 million
2021-03-28 - 495.1 million
2021-03-29 - 498.0 million
2021-03-31 - 507.7 million
2021-04-01 - 511.3 million
2021-04-02 - 514.8 million
2021-04-05 - 518.3 million
2021-04-12 - 529.7 million
2021-04-17 - 541.2 million
2021-04-20 - 563.7 million
2021-04-21 - 564.1 million
2021-04-24 - 564.6 million
2021-04-26 - 565.6 million
2021-04-29 - 566.1 million
2021-05-04 - 566.8 million
2021-05-05 - 567.6 million
2021-05-07 - 568.1 million
2021-05-08 - 569.0 million
2021-05-14 - 569.3 million
2021-05-20 - 570.5 million
2021-05-27 - 571.8 million
2021-06-01 - 574.2 million
2021-06-12 - 574.9 million
2021-06-19 - 575.0 million
2021-06-22 - 582.6 million
2021-07-12 - 583.5 million
2021-07-27 - 584.1 million
2021-08-01 - 584.3 million
2021-09-25 - 584.5 million
2021-09-26 - 584.8 million
2021-10-05 - 585.3 million
2021-10-13 - 588.3 million
2021-10-14 - 589.5 million
2021-10-15 - 591.1 million
2021-10-24 - 592.6 million
2021-10-25 - 593.3 million
2021-10-26 - 593.8 million
2021-10-27 - 594.3 million
2021-10-28 - 595.6 million
2021-10-29 - 596.5 million
2021-10-30 - 597.0 million
2021-10-31 - 597.9 million
2021-11-01 - 598.1 million
2021-11-02 - 599.2 million
2021-11-05 - 601.6 million
2021-11-07 - 602.4 million
2021-11-10 - 605.5 million
2021-11-13 - 607.8 million
2021-11-14 - 608.3 million
2021-11-19 - 608.7 million
2021-11-23 - 608.9 million
2021-11-25 - 609.1 million
2021-11-28 - 609.3 million
2021-11-30 - 609.4 million
2021-12-04 - 609.6 million
2021-12-05 - 610.0 million
2021-12-07 - 610.2 million
2021-12-11 - 611.8 million
2021-12-13 - 612.5 million
2021-12-19 - 612.9 million
2021-12-28 - 614.0 million
2022-01-02 - 620.6 million
2022-01-04 - 621.3 million
2022-01-06 - 621.6 million
2022-01-10 - 624.1 million
2022-01-13 - 637.3 million
2022-02-08 - 637.4 million
Other legal databases
- Caselaw Access Project – Free. 1.7 million+ federal cases. 4.9 million+ state cases.CAP includes all official, book-published United States case law — every volume designated as an official report of decisions by a court within the United States. Cases years range from 1658 to 2018.
- CourtListener – Free. 4 million+ federal and state court opinions. 70K+ oral arguments. 38K+ hours of oral argument audio.Primarily focused on federal courts, state courts of last resort, and state appellate courts. CourtListener features advanced search capability, alerts for new opinions matching any search criteria, and ranking of search results that takes into account the authority of opinions based on citation and precedence factors. Individual opinion pages are richly cross-referenced to related case law. PACER notwithstanding, CourtListener is the most powerful case law research tool available online — and in many ways is much more powerful.
- Fastcase Docket Alarm – Several free searches granted. Premium access upsell. 26 million+ federal cases. 91 million+ state cases. 19 million+ specialized agency cases (patent, trademark, tax, international trade, etc.). In addition to case tracking/alerts, Fastcase's Docket Alarm includes advanced analytics and calendaring capabilities.
- Google Scholar Case Law – Free. Google doesn't provide the exact number of court cases. Being focused on federal courts, state courts of last resort, and state appellate courts, Google's case law database is highly likely to be roughly the same size of CourtListener's case law database of 4-5 million cases. Google's Case Law search is extremely fast to search and navigate, has a very clean user interface, supports Google's standard query operators, and allows the creation of alerts for new results that match a given search.
- PACER – Fee-based, unless usage is less than $30 within a quarter or you are an exempted group or individual. 56 million+ federal court cases, including bankruptcy, criminal, civil, and appellate.PACER is the official case management system of the United States federal judiciary, run by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC). Fees are charged for almost every kind of request for case info, including each search result page viewed, and even when a search returns no results.
- UniCourt – Several free searches granted. Premium access upsell. 9 million+ federal cases. 114 million+ state cases.UniCourt offers premium API-based access to legal data and case tracking/alerts for the cases in its database and any case available in PACER. A large selling point of UniCourt's solutions is that they use powerful data normalization processes and algorithms to add value to their legal data, which includes normalization of case classification and entity names (e.g., people, companies, attorneys, law firms, judges).