How To Use PACER
Uploaded by
National Press FoundationHow To Use PACER
Uploaded by
National Press FoundationHow to use PACER
Paul Miller Fellowship Roshanak Taghavi & Leah Nylen June 4, 2012
US Courts
PACER case locator
Can use to search all courts Updated once a day (each night) Useful for broad searches https://pcl.uscourts.gov/search
Court docs
You can print anything from a court doc (with attribution) without concern for libel/defamation issues All court proceedings are presumed open under the First Amendment Exceptions to open rule: juvenile cases, domestic cases; some national security; proprietary info Glossary of legal terms: http://www.uscourts.gov/uscourts/News/docs/Jo urnalistGuide2011.pdf#page=36
Criminal cases
CR, U.S. v. Blank U.S. v. Edwards, 11-cr-161 https://ecf.ncmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl Information/indictment Motions, transcripts, verdicts
Civil cases
Generally, two private companies or citizens suing each other OR a federal agency bringing an action against a company/person CV, plaintiff v. defendant; agency v. defendant http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/dcd/ecf FTC v. Graco, 11-cv-2239 Complaint Motions, transcripts, etc.
ECF
Electronic case filing get e-mail alerts when a case is updated
Unsealing docs: Write a letter
Unsealing docs: file a motion to intervene
Other ways to find court docs
Justia: http://dockets.justia.com/ Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/explore/BusinessLaw/ Court-Filings Inforuptcy: https://www.inforuptcy.com/ Recap the Law: https://www.recapthelaw.org/features/
