How to read a federal case number
By JudgeFinder Editors · Published · 4 min read
A federal district court case number packs five facts into one string: the office where the case was filed, the year, the type of case, a sequence number and, in many courts, the initials of the assigned judge. A number written as 2:25-cv-01234-ABC reads as office 2, filed in 2025, civil, case 1234 of that year, assigned to the judge with initials ABC. This is a made-up example, and every court sets its own details.
The parts of a case number
Take the example 2:25-cv-01234-ABC piece by piece.
| Part | Example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Office or division | 2 | The courthouse or division where the case was filed |
| Year | 25 | The year the case was filed |
| Case type | cv | civil (cr is criminal, mc is miscellaneous) |
| Sequence | 01234 | The number of the case within that year |
| Judge initials | ABC | The assigned district judge |
The District of New Jersey describes the same pattern: division, year, case type, sequential number and the initials of the presiding judge. Its sample number, 3:00-cv-5 (GEB), is a civil case filed in the Trenton division, the fifth case filed that year, assigned to Judge Garrett E. Brown.
The District of South Carolina adds two details that show how courts differ. A civil number there ends with the district judge's initials, and a second set of initials after them means the case, or part of it, went to a magistrate judge. A criminal number ends with a defendant number instead, such as -01 for the first defendant.
So treat the example as a pattern, not a rule. The court's website usually has a short page explaining its own version.
Find the judge's name
Initials are shorthand, and the same initials can belong to different judges in different districts. To turn them into a name:
- Open the website of the court named on your papers. The U.S. Courts Find a Federal Court tool links to each one.
- Find the list of district judges and magistrate judges. Some courts, like South Carolina, print a table of judges and their initials beside the case number explanation.
- Match the initials to the judge, then read that judge's posted procedures. Our guide to researching a federal judge covers what to read next.
The docket report in a case also names the judge. The header of a docket sheet usually shows who the case is assigned to and, if a magistrate judge is involved, who it is referred to.
Read the docket header
A docket sheet starts with a summary block. These fields are the ones worth reading first:
- Assigned to names the district judge. Referred to names a magistrate judge when there is one.
- Date Filed and Date Terminated show how old the case is and whether it is closed.
- Cause and Nature of Suit describe the kind of case, such as a civil rights or contract claim.
- Jury Demand shows whether a party asked for a jury.
Below the header, each numbered entry is a filing or an order, in date order. The entry number is how people cite a document, as in "ECF No. 12."
Where to look a case up
You have four routes, and the cost differs:
- PACER Case Locator searches federal courts for cases by number or party. PACER charges $0.10 per page, caps a single document at $3, and waives the fee if you spend $30 or less in a quarter. Search results are billed by page with no cap, so searching by case number is cheaper than searching by name.
- The court's own electronic filing system works the same way and is useful when you know the court.
- CourtListener's RECAP Archive is free and holds filings that other users and Free Law Project have shared or bought from PACER. It does not hold everything.
- A public terminal at any federal courthouse lets you view case information without a PACER charge.
Court opinions on PACER are always free.
When the judge changes
Cases move. A judge may recuse, retire or be replaced, or the court may reassign a case to sit with a related one. The docket records the reassignment, and filings made after it carry the new initials. If your judge changes, read the new judge's procedures again, because deadlines and habits can differ.
Connect a number to a judge profile
JudgeFinder lists recent docket numbers on a federal judge's profile, with filing dates, and withholds case captions because captions can name sensitive parties. The number format above applies to those entries. The profile source is CourtListener, so a number may lag the court's own docket. Each profile shows the date its case data was refreshed, and the data sources page states what the index covers.
To find a judge's profile by name, use the federal judge directory. To find a court, start from the court directory.
Frequently asked questions
- What do cv, cr and mc mean in a case number?
- cv means civil, cr means criminal and mc means miscellaneous. Some courts also use a code for magistrate judge matters. The letters sit between the year and the sequence number.
- Do the letters at the end of a case number name my judge?
- In many districts they are the initials of the assigned district judge, and a second set of initials can name a magistrate judge. Look up the initials on the court's list of judges, because two judges can share initials in different courts.
- Can the judge on my case change?
- Yes. Cases are reassigned for reasons such as recusal, a vacancy or a related case. The docket records the reassignment and later filings carry the new initials.
- Is every federal court's case number the same format?
- No. The pattern is common in district courts, but each court sets its own details. Courts of appeals and bankruptcy courts use their own formats. Check the court's website for its explanation.
Sources
Keep reading
General information from public sources, not legal advice. Rules differ by court and change. Check the court's current rules or ask a lawyer. See federal judge records and the data notes.