Docket Basics: How to Read a Court Case in 5 Minutes
Start with the caption, then the docket. A complaint alleges. An order decides. Those are not the same document.
NU commentary. This is an NU original explainer of public systems. It is not a primary record and not a verdict.
AI-assisted. Drafted with AI assistance. Check the linked public sources before you rely on a step. Disclosure and law references.
Start with the caption
The caption is the heading of the case. It names the parties and the court. Read that first so you know who filed, who is on the other side, and which court has the file.
Then the docket sheet
The docket sheet lists every filing in order. Treat it as the table of contents. It tells you what was filed, when, and by whom, before you open a document.
Four words that sort the paper
- A complaint says what one side alleges.
- An answer is the reply.
- A motion is a request to the judge.
- An order is the judge's ruling.
An allegation is not a finding
An allegation is something a party said in a filing. A finding is something the court decided. Check which one you are holding before you repeat it. The checklist is on Allegation, Finding, Opinion.
Where to search for free
Use CourtListener to search dockets for free. The paid official system is PACER. How the fee works, and when you can skip it, is in PACER Without the Bill.
Not legal advice. This is a reading map for public court files. Rules and portals differ by court.