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Obtaining Information about Cases

There are two steps to obtaining current information about a case, and keeping up-to-date with developments in that case:

  1. Viewing the online docket via PACER
  2. Registering for email announcements through CM/ECF
PACER Logo

1. Viewing the Online Docket via PACER

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) is the judiciary’s method of providing on-line access to federal court records. PACER provides the public with instantaneous access to more than 1 billion documents filed at all federal courts. There is no fee to register for PACER online.

With PACER, you can examine the docket for a particular case, which will provide the names of all parties, the names and contact information for the attorneys of record and an itemization of every document filed in the case by name, filer and date. Case documents are accessible from the docket via hyperlinks.

The Judicial Conference of the United States has established a user fee to be collected for access to PACER; however, if usage in a quarter is $30 or less, PACER fees are waived.  For more information on PACER fees, and circumstances in which PACER use is free, see PACER Pricing: How fees work.

CM/ECF Logo

2. Registering for Email Notifications through CM/ECF

The court also makes it possible for journalists and interested members of the public to register for so-called "Special Mailing Group (SMG)" accounts within the court's Electronic Filing System (ECF).

Once you have your ECF account, you can sign up for Notices of Electronic Filing ("NEFs") in particular cases and receive email notification when a document related to that case is available to be viewed electronically via PACER.

Notices of Electronic Filing (NEFs)

If you are an attorney of record in the case, you should be receiving emails automatically. If you are not receiving emails, please confirm that you have properly appeared in the case and are shown on the docket. See Civil Local Rule 5-1(c)(2) for more information on appearance.

If you are not an attorney of record in the case but rather a journalist or interested member of the public (which can, of course, include an attorney not associated with the case), the information that follows is for you.  If you have not yet set up a Special Mailing Group account, see Self-Registration Instructions for Special Mailing Groups.