How to understand a court docket?

Asked by: Cyril Hermiston  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (60 votes)

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.

What do the numbers on a court docket mean?

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.

How do you read and understand a court case?

The How of Reading Cases
  1. “Prep” the case. ...
  2. Pre-read the case. ...
  3. Read actively. ...
  4. Ask questions of the material as you read. ...
  5. Read each case with an eye toward its role in the scheme of things. ...
  6. Write notes instead of highlighting. ...
  7. Keep moving. ...
  8. Sum up the case.

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 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.

How to Read a Court Docket: Tips for Finding Facts and Stories Amid the Arguments

23 related questions found

How do I 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.

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 court case mean?

Case number format depends on the court. At the federal level, the standard is 1:23-AB-45678-CDE. 1 is the division of the district court that's handling the case; 23 is the year it was filed; AB is the type of case; 45678 is the number of the case; CDE are the initials of the judge (and aren't always there).

What does D mean on a court docket?

Defendant. In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

How to analyze a court case?

How do I analyze a law case?
  1. Outline of Steps based on IRAC model.
  2. Facts - Write a brief synopsis of the case facts.
  3. Procedural History - Outline the history of the case. ...
  4. Issue - Identify the issue(s) of the case.
  5. Rule - List the relevant rule(s) of law that the court identifies.

What is the difference between a decision and a disposition?

decision: A court's judgment or decree. See also decree or judgment. dispose: To end a case. disposition: The final decision in a case.

How do I read the title of a court case?

Reading Legal Citations
  1. the names of the parties involved in the lawsuit.
  2. the volume number of the reporter containing the full text of the case.
  3. the abbreviated title of that case reporter.
  4. the page number on which the case begins the year the case was decided.
  5. the name of the court deciding the case (not always included)

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.

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 does "docket sheet" mean?

The Clerk's Office maintains a docket sheet for each civil and criminal case filed with the court. Docket entries are meant to be succinct summaries of information regarding the document that has been filed. Word abbreviations are often used in the docket entry to save time and space on the docket sheet.

How to read a court decision?

The bulk of the opinion of a court will consist usually of an analysis which includes the plaintiff's arguments and supporting cases, the defendant's argument and supporting cases, and the court's review of the cases, statutes, and facts applicable to the case at bar.

What's on the docket meaning?

: 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 the rule of 4 mean when hearing a court case?

On the face of it, the Supreme Court's “Rule of Four” is straightforward. Where the justices have discretion as to whether to hear an appeal, at least four of the Court's members must vote to grant a writ of certiorari, which facilitates a full review on the merits.

How to read a docket number?

Using and Understanding Docket Numbers
  1. The year the case was filed, in two or four digit format.
  2. The court the case was filed in, represented by a letter or number.
  3. The type of case (e.g. civil, criminal, bankruptcy).
  4. A sequence number, randomly assigned to each case as it is filed.

What do the letters in a case number mean?

A unique number assigned to a case identify the case. Each docket number starts with a three-letter. location code, which represents the location of the appropriate court. These three letters are followed by two letters that tell the type of case: civil (including housing and small claims)(CV); or family (FA).

What does DM mean in court cases?

• Dismiss / Decided by Dispositive Motion / Dismiss by Judge/Party – Use when the judge. dismisses a case whether it be after a hearing or stipulation, for lack of prosecution or because of a dispositive motion.

What do the numbers on a case mean?

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 does C mean in court cases?

As for “c” and “cc” the more common practices are as a reference to a court (singular) or courts (plural), such as when referring to a string of cases from the Texas district courts. Under different circumstances it refers to “criminal court” or “cicil court” while it may also be used to signal a type of legal holding.

What is a full docket?

Likewise, if someone complains that he has a full docket, he's saying that he is very busy. While docket, as used above, is another word for agenda or schedule, it is most commonly used to mean the calendar for a court of law, specifically, the schedule of pending cases.