U.S. Courts (PACER – Case Lookup)
Official site: https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
What This Site Is
The official system for searching federal court cases, dockets, and filings in U.S. courts.
What You Can Do Here
- Search federal criminal and civil cases
- View court dockets and case timelines
- Read filings like indictments, motions, and orders
- Track case status and outcomes
Start Here (Pick What You're Looking For)
If you want to...
- See if someone has a federal case → Search by party name using the National Case Locator
- Get details on a known case → Search by case number and open the docket
- Follow an active case → Check the docket for recent filings and orders
- Get court documents (indictments, motions, rulings) → Open individual docket entries (fees may apply)
How This Page Works
- Go to pacer.uscourts.gov
- Create a free PACER account (required to search)
- Log in and choose Find a Case
- Use the National Case Locator or select a specific court
- Search by party name, case number, or attorney
- Open the docket to view filings and case history
- Click individual documents to view or download (fees may apply)
Common Things to Search For
- Federal criminal indictments by defendant name
- Civil lawsuits involving a company or individual
- Bankruptcy filings (individual or business)
- Appeals court cases and decisions
- Recent filings or case status updates
Good to Know
- PACER charges $0.10 per page, capped at $3 per document
- You get $30 of free usage per quarter if charges stay below that amount
- An account is required even to search, but registration is free
- Some filings are sealed or restricted
- PACER includes federal courts only — not state courts