Court Case Records

Records from past court cases can prove to be an invaluable resource when conducting research into a person’s past. These records are also ideal for students conducting academic research, or anyone who needs specific information about a case they were involved in formerly. This may apply if you need to apply for a government job or professional school, special licenses or government clearance of some sort; all of these will require verification of the outcomes of any cases you have been party to in the past. Following is a breakdown of the information commonly found in these records:

Docket Entries

Docket entries are one of the simplest forms of information you can find in court case records. These dockets are essentially the court’s calendar, and will include all hearings, discovery periods and trial periods involved in the case.

Hearings, Minutes and Related Paperwork

Most cases involve several preliminary hearings, and court recorders are present to take down minutes and transcripts from all proceedings. These records are also kept in the complete case record for future reference. In addition, any paperwork related to the case is maintained in the case file. This may involve divorce decrees, financial statements, arrest records, police reports and any and all records of evidence presented at the hearings and trial.

Parties Involved

Every case, no matter the type, involves a plaintiff, or the person or party bringing the case and pressing charges, as well as the defendant, or the subject of the charges. Cases are filed typically by index number and name, which will always read ‘plaintiff vs. defendant.’ For example, if someone is being prosecuted in traffic court in the State of Florida, the case may be referred to as “State of Florida vs. John Doe.”

Other parties involved such as attorneys and presiding judges are recorded in the case file. Identifying information such as names, addresses and even Social Security numbers are included in these files. However, any sensitive information is often obscured from public view.

Charges

Every case involves specific charges that may be of a criminal or civil origin. Depending upon the alleged violations, the plaintiff’s complaint against the defendant will determine the type of charge involved. 

Civil charges are typically those filed between two individuals or parties other than the state or local bodies of government. This is because civil violations are those which cause harm against an individual, but without the risk to society. An example of these would be personal injury or liability charges. 

Criminal charges, on the other hand, are often brought by the authorities because the defendant is considered a risk to society. This is true for murder, traffic, fraud and other similar types of cases.

Judgments and Rulings

Depending upon the court and type of case, a defendant may be able to request a judge or jury trial. Any judgments or rulings determined by the jury or the judge are included in the court case records as well. In addition, if the defendant sought an appeal, you will find this in the record too. These rulings and final outcomes are often what will be necessary when requesting copies of case records that you were party to personally, and any convictions will remain on your permanent record if you are over the age of 18.