Tech Series FAQ: Who has statewide portals for trial court online docket or document access?

June 6, 2024

By Bill Raftery

One of the most frequent questions NCSC receives is whether a state has online access to docket or document information for its trial courts. The answer for most states is yes but with several caveats.

First, as we note elsewhere, trial court record or docket searches are different from running a criminal background check. Online court records are not the official records of the court and are provided for informational purposes only—and may be subject to error or omission. Users of these court systems therefore have the responsibility to verify the accuracy, currency, and completeness of the information retrieved from those systems.

Second, trial court docket access and document access are different. Docket access may include calendaring and scheduling items, events or activities on the case, or a list of documents associated with the case. Document access refers to being able to download or view those documents remotely. Here, there is often “tiered” access where parties and attorneys may have access to certain features not available to the general public.

Third, trial court docket and document access will depend in several states on the level of court. For example, a state may have its general jurisdiction court online in a single portal while local municipal courts remain offline or require the person to go to each court to search their individual systems.

Fourth, access is based on restrictions related to the release of information based on case or party type. For example, cases involving juveniles may not be accessible because they are confidential. Access may also depend on the status of the case. For example, in Minnesota, a criminal case may not be available until disposition. In Alaska, criminal cases in which the defendant was acquitted or had their charge dismissed are removed from that state’s online public index (CourtView). Those using online search systems should examine the public access rules of that court or state to understand what is or is not available.

Below is a list (as of May 2024) of all statewide portals available, noting some of the limitations of such portals.

Is your state considering a statewide portal or access policies related thereto? Email us at Knowledge@ncsc.org or call 800-616-6164 and let us know. Follow the National Center for State Courts on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Vimeo. For more Trending Topics posts, visit ncsc.org/trendingtopics and subscribe to the LinkedIn newsletter.