PACER is the online system used to retrieve federal court filings. It works best if you have a specific case you are looking for so try to get as much information as you can before starting on PACER, such as the exact party names, the names of attorneys, and the court where the case is or was pending.
Formatting of docket numbers on PACER can vary tremendously. If you can't find the case you are looking for through the docket number, try to search with party names or other information instead.
Remember, you CANNOT search full-text of documents in PACER. Your goal is to find a case, and then look at the docket sheet to find particular documents/filings you may need.
Coverage: virtually all current federal court filings below the Supreme Court level are available via PACER. For Supreme Court filings, click HERE. If a case (or filings) are sealed, they will not be available.Filings more than 5-10 years old may not be posted to PACER, depending on the court.
PACER charges a small fee for each document viewed or downloaded. There are no special accounts for law students. If you are in a class that requires PACER use, your professor should provide you with the log-in information that you need. For work outside of law school, you will need to inquire with your firm about their account, log-in, and billing practices.
Once you have chosen your court, you may need to click an additional link such as “Document Filing System.” From there, look at the blue bar across the top of the screen for the “QUERY” link.
After you run your search, keep an eye out for the links with the letter “R” in a blue box next to them. You can download these documents for free from the RECAP archive.
Screenshots on how to use PACER
Each hyperlinked number in the docket will lead you to the full text of the document. Remember that you will be charged for each document you view or download.