How do docket numbers work?
Asked by: Norwood Volkman | Last update: October 31, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (1 votes)
After a case is filed, the court assigns it a docket number, which is the court's case number or tracking number. The docket lists the judge, parties, and the attorneys of record, along with a summary of each document filed in the case, the date when it was filed, and the court case number assigned to the document.
What do the numbers mean in a court case?
Each court generally has its own system for assigning docket numbers, which may include some or all of the following: The year the case was filed, in two or four digit format. The court the case was filed in, represented by a letter or number. The type of case (e.g. civil, criminal, bankruptcy).
How do you read a docket?
A docket usually has four main sections: the caption, general case information, party information, and a list of docket entries. At the top of a docket sheet you'll find the caption: the name of the court, the official title of the case, and the case number.
How do case numbers work?
A case number is a unique number assigned to a case by the court. The number makes it easier to track or retrieve the case. Knowing your case number also makes it easy to determine where and when the defendant filed the case.
What do cases on the docket mean?
In general, a docket is where there are multiple cases set at the exact same time, and the cases could involve a wide range of issues. Cases could be on a docket in order to obtain a simple status update, set for pre-trial or settlement conference, trial or anywhere in between.
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What do the letters in a docket number mean?
The nature of the proceeding is abbreviated by a letter code. For example, “R” stands for a Rate case, and "RM" is a Rulemaking case. The letter code is then followed by the current year and the number of the case for that year. For example the 2nd rate case for FY2009 would be Docket R2009-2.
What is an example of a docket number?
For example, 1:21-cv-5678-MW is the docket number for the 5,678th civil case filed in the year 2021 and assigned to court number 1 and the Honorable Martha Washington.
What are the different types of dockets?
The dockets are divided up into different categories: all federal or state dockets, federal dockets by court, dockets by state, dockets by territory, and dockets by topic.
What do the numbers after a case name mean?
The basic format for a case citation is: the case name, the volume number and abbreviation of the reporter in which the case was published, the initial page number of the case, and the year of the case. The volume number is placed before the reporter abbreviation and the page number is placed after the abbreviation.
What is docket and why is it important?
Dockets contain information about the judge hearing the case, parties involved, attorneys involved, the events of a case, and more. Dockets are generally more useful for researching trials. Because trials may last many years, and involve many events the dockets are important for locating information about cases.
What does m mean in a court case number?
It could mean that the case has been filed as a misdemeanor. It also might be that the case has been "filed" as a 72 hour hold to give the government more time to decide what charges to file. Typically "MA/MB/MC" will denote a misdemeanor case and "CM" will denote a 72 hour hold case.
What happens on docket day in court?
A docket sounding is the trial courts method of monitoring the progress of a case. At this hearing, the Defendant is required to appear in court to advise the Judge whether or not he or she is ready for trial. The Defendant may also announce that he or she wishes to enter a plea.
How do you read a court case?
- “Prep” the case. ...
- Pre-read the case. ...
- Read actively. ...
- Ask questions of the material as you read. ...
- Read each case with an eye toward its role in the scheme of things. ...
- Write notes instead of highlighting. ...
- Keep moving. ...
- Sum up the case.
What are key numbers in a case?
Using the West Key Number System is particularly useful when you have identified a relevant case and would like to find additional cases addressing a certain point of law or legal issue from other jurisdictions. A key number consists of a topic number, followed by a number to identify the issue within that topic.
What does sequence number mean in jail?
Related Definitions
Charge sequence number means the unique numerical identifier for each charge in a case with multiple charges.
How to read court case titles?
- the names of the parties involved in the lawsuit.
- the volume number of the reporter containing the full text of the case.
- the abbreviated title of that case reporter.
- the page number on which the case begins the year the case was decided.
- the name of the court deciding the case (not always included)
How to read a law code?
Citations to California Codes do not begin with numbers; instead, the title of the code name is followed by the section number, the publisher, and the date of the volume (not the date the individual code section was enacted). Parallel cites are not used for the code, since there is no official code for California.
What does it mean when a case is on the docket?
: on a list of legal cases to be heard by a court. The judge had to postpone some of the cases on the docket. 2. : on a list of things to be considered (by a group of people, such as a committee) The new library will be the first item on the committee's docket.
What is a docket fee?
A docket is a brief list of all proceedings, filings, and possibly deadlines in a case . A judge 's docket is the official docket kept for a case by the court . A docket fee is a price charged by a court for placing a case on its docket or calendar .
What does CC mean in a court case number?
CC stands for different things depending on the context. It can mean Circuit, City, Civil, or County Court, which are places where legal cases are heard. It can also refer to the Commodity Credit Corporation, which is a government agency that helps farmers.
What is the meaning of docket ID?
Docket ID – A four-digit identifier for each docket. Document ID – A four digit identifier for each primary document in a docket.