Frequently Asked Questions: Locating Court Documents and Information

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FAQs - Locating Court Documents and Information

What sort of online resources are available?

The Court’s website provides access to opinions, orders, docket, Court calendars, transcripts, schedules, rules, visitors’ guides, case-handling guides, press releases and other general information. Opinions are typically accessible on the Court’s website within five minutes of their release from the Bench.

Can I sign up to receive email notifications of activity in a case?

Yes. Visit the docket page for an individual case and click on the envelope icon above the case number. Enter your email address and click Subscribe. An email will be sent to you to confirm the address. After confirming, you will receive email notifications every time there is a new filing or action by the Court in the case.

Who can access the Supreme Court Library?

Due to ongoing renovation work in the Court’s Library, Supreme Court Bar members will not be able to access the Library beginning on May 19, 2025.

Could the Supreme Court Library help me with a general legal research question?

No, but members of the public may use the Library of Congress’s Ask a Librarian service. For legal assistance, try the American Bar Association’s Find Legal Help page.

Where can I find a list of Supreme Court cases on a specific topic?

The Library of Congress’s How To Find Free Case Law Online provides free online resources for case law, including decisions of the Supreme Court.

Where can I find:

...briefs filed in a Supreme Court case?

Briefs are linked within case dockets, beginning in November 2017. For additional sources of briefs, see the Where to Find Briefs page on the Court’s website.

…docket information (what items have been filed in a case)?

Use the Docket Search page on the Court’s website for October Term 2001-present. The Engrossed Dockets, 1791-1995 are available through the National Archives.

…opinions written by the Supreme Court?

The Court’s opinions are published in the United States Reports and are available in libraries nationwide. The Opinions of the Court and U.S. Reports pages on the Court’s website cover October Term 1991-present. The Library of Congress maintains an online digital collection through October Term 2012.

…oral argument transcripts and recordings?

All transcripts since October Term 1968 are available on the Argument Transcripts page on the Court’s website.

The Argument Audio page contains audio files from October Term 2010. Earlier audio files are available at the National Archives. The Court began audio recording of oral arguments in 1955. There are no video recordings of oral arguments.

For more information about transcripts and the availability of audio recordings, see the Transcripts and Recordings of Oral Arguments page.

…the papers of the Justices?

The Federal Judicial Center’s Biographical Directory of Federal Judges includes information about the Justices’ manuscript collections. Many papers are located at the Library of Congress and other research institutions throughout the country. Some material may be available online (e.g., The Harry A. Blackmun Papers at the Library of Congress).

…proceedings before the Court?

The Journal (October Term 1889-present) and the Minutes are the official records of the Court’s proceedings. The Engrossed Minutes, 1790-1950 are available at the National Archives.

…statistics on the Supreme Court’s work?

The Journal includes statistics on the Term at the beginning of each issue since October Term 1932.

…the text of speeches given by the Justices?

Speeches are released at the discretion of each Justice. The Speeches page on the Court’s website contains texts approved for public release since 2000.

Does the Supreme Court have a style manual for writing briefs? Could you advise as to how the Supreme Court would cite to a particular document?

The Supreme Court does not have a style manual for advocates before the Court. The Rules and Guidance page on the Court’s website includes guides for counsel. Supreme Court Practice (11th ed. 2019) provides detailed information for those practicing before the Supreme Court. For help citing a particular document, search Supreme Court materials to see the format used in similar documents.

How do I find the U.S. Reports citation for an opinion of the Court?

Use the Case Citation Finder feature under the Opinions section on the Court’s website.

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