Westlaw Precision makes docket lookup easy
Westlaw Precision makes it easier than ever to quickly access relevant case information and results in just a few clicks. And this includes docket information. Let’s walk through how to find cases by docket and case citation, and how to quickly understand your docket with AI.
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Step 1: Pull up the Dockets page in Westlaw Precision
Step 2: Pick the court you need the docket from
Step 3: Run your court docket search
Docket lookup using the case citation
Court docket search: the basic steps
Whether you want to know how to find a case number online or you already have the docket number and simply want to pull up the docket, Westlaw Precision makes it easy.
Step 1: Pull up the Dockets page in Westlaw Precision
The dockets page and related links can be found under the “Content types” tab in the top navigation.
You can also use the global search bar at the top of the page to search for “dockets” and select the appropriate suggestion. Both of these options get you to the same place.
Step 2: Pick the court you need the docket from
Once on the docket page, you have a couple of options. You can either:
- Click on the specific court or jurisdiction you are interested in, like the U.S. Supreme Court; or
- Check the boxes next to the courts or jurisdictions you want to search and enter your search terms in the global search bar at the top.
NOTE: To see/use these check boxes, make sure to select the “Specify content to search” option.
While there are many jurisdictions to choose from – including all federal and state dockets – in many cases you want results from one court or jurisdiction. By selecting a specific court or jurisdiction, you have more control over search results and can use templates for your docket lookup.
For example, if you click on “U.S. Supreme Court,” you will be brought directly to a docket search page where you can use a template to search by participant name, docket number, attorney or law firm name, and filing date.
And if you click on a more general jurisdiction — say California dockets — you have the option to narrow your jurisdiction search, including options to search by a specific federal court, state court or county within that state. When you drill down to the specific court you need, you can search using a template.
Step 3: Run your court docket search
Once you get to the specific search template for the court you need, enter in your search information. While the templates may vary from court to court, you will typically be able to search by party/participant name, filing date, key search terms, attorney/firm names, and docket number.
For example, if you have the docket number, enter it in the proper field to run a docket number search – making sure to use the correct format. If you aren’t sure about the format, you can find additional information by clicking on the scope icon.
Even in cases where you don’t have the docket or case number, you can use the other template options to run a search and select the correct docket from the results list.
Docket lookup using the case citation
Another easy way to look up a case number or docket is to search by case citation.
Search for the case in Westlaw Precision by typing “find:” and then enter the specific case citation in the global search bar field located at the top of the page.
The docket or case number will be listed directly below the party names.
To look at the case docket, follow these three steps:
- Select “Filings” in the top left corner of the case
- Select “Dockets” in the left-hand margin
- Select the docket from the specific court you want to view. Note: more than one docket may be listed if multiple courts have dealt with the case.
AI summaries of dockets
Dockets can be complex and difficult to understand, so Westlaw Precision offers a feature driven by artificial intelligence that allows you to quickly summarize the text of a docket to better understand key details and events within the docket.
Click on the “Summarize docket” button on any docket and receive an AI-generated summary that will highlight key activities, timelines, and details about the docket proceedings. This can supplement your litigation research, without having to parse through the docket proceedings yourself. For lengthy, complex litigation this can save valuable time understanding the docket events.
We covered a few of the ways to find case dockets and docket-related information on Westlaw Precision. And, regardless of the method you choose, looking up a docket on Westlaw Precision is quick and easy. With just a few clicks, you can find the information you need, improving your strategy and elevating your outcome.
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