Are Court Dates Public Record: Scheduled Hearings, Online Visibility & Removal Options
Court dates - the scheduled dates for hearings, arraignments, trials, and other court proceedings - are part of the public court record in the United States. This is a feature, not a bug, of open justice: the public's ability to attend court proceedings depends on knowing when they are scheduled. But this openness has consequences for individuals whose upcoming court dates - or past court dates still visible in court calendars - appear in Google searches. Understanding how court dates become publicly visible and what options exist for limiting that visibility is important for anyone navigating the criminal or civil justice system.
By Anthony WillEst. 2013Published May 27, 2026Read time: 10 min
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Yes. Court calendars and dockets showing upcoming hearing dates are generally public record. This applies to: For more information, visit the US Courts.
Criminal arraignments, bail hearings, and pretrial conferences
Trial dates in criminal and civil cases
Sentencing hearings
Civil motion hearings
Appellate argument dates
Many courts post their daily calendars online, and court dockets (accessible through PACER for federal courts and state portals for state courts) show all scheduled upcoming events in a case. This information is publicly accessible before, during, and after any hearing. Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
How Court Dates Appear in Google
Court dates in Google search results typically come from: For more information, visit the FOIA.
Your record is probably showing in more places than you realize - and each one can be addressed.
Most people who reach out to us had no idea how many places their record had spread. Justia, Google Scholar, UniCourt, background check sites - each one a new place where employers, landlords, or dates might find you. A free scan shows you exactly where you stand, so you can do something about it.
Court docket pages: PACER-derived pages on CourtListener show all docket entries including scheduled hearings
State court calendar pages: Many state courts post searchable daily or weekly calendars online, which Google indexes
News coverage: Reporters cover criminal cases and note upcoming trial dates in articles
Data broker profiles: Some aggregators include court date information in their reports
Legal aggregators: Justia and similar sites sometimes display docket information including hearing dates
Most people in your position reach out right here.
You've already done the hard part - finding out what's out there. We handle the rest: every platform removal, Google de-indexing, and background check site. No upfront cost. Completely confidential. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
Past court dates are part of the official case record. They cannot be removed from official court records without a sealing or expungement order. After such an order: Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
The docket entry (including past hearing dates) is restricted on official portals
CourtListener and Justia can be asked to remove or de-index the case
Google pages can be requested for de-indexing through the Personal Information Removal Tool
News articles typically cannot be compelled to remove court date references
Protecting Privacy Before a Court Date
If you are concerned about a future court date appearing in search results, there are limited but practical steps:
Sealing request: If your case involves privacy-sensitive facts, your attorney may be able to request that the proceeding be sealed or conducted in camera
Name change redaction: In certain cases, courts can order party names partially redacted from online-accessible dockets
Audit current online presence: Know what is already indexed before the hearing date
Work with a reputation professional: Post-hearing, address data broker and aggregator profiles proactively
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are court hearing dates public record?
Yes. Court hearing dates in the United States are public record as part of the court's docket and calendar. This applies to criminal and civil proceedings. Courts post their daily calendars online and dockets showing upcoming events are publicly accessible through PACER (federal) and state court portals. Sealed cases have restricted dockets where upcoming dates may not be visible to the public.
Can I find someone's upcoming court date?
Yes, you can search for upcoming court dates through state court online portals and PACER (for federal courts). Most state courts have name-based search functionality that shows open cases and their upcoming hearing dates. CourtListener (courtlistener.com) indexes federal court dockets. Some states display courtroom calendars daily online. Sealed and expunged cases are excluded from these public searches.
Can I remove my court date from Google?
Removing a court date from Google requires first addressing the source page. If the court date appears on an official court portal, a sealing order is required to restrict that access. After restriction, Google's Personal Information Removal Tool can be used to request de-indexing. If it appears on a news site, direct removal typically requires the site's voluntary cooperation. Data broker profiles can be addressed through opt-out requests.
Are criminal court dates public?
Yes. Criminal court dates are public record. The date and time of arraignments, hearings, and trials are part of the court's public docket. This public access exists so community members can observe proceedings. Exceptions include sealed cases, juvenile court proceedings, and certain domestic relations matters where the court restricts access. After expungement, the case record including court dates is restricted from public access.
How do I find my own court date?
Search the court portal for the jurisdiction where your case was filed. For federal cases, check PACER (pacer.gov). For state cases, visit your state's court website and look for 'case search' or 'court calendar.' You will need your name, case number, or both. You can also call the court clerk's office directly. Your attorney, if you have one, will always have access to your upcoming court dates.