Are Court Dockets Public Record: What Shows and How to Remove It
Court dockets are the official index of filings and events in a court case - and in the United States, they are generally considered public record. But 'generally public' masks significant variation. Federal court dockets are accessible through PACER and indexed by CourtListener. State court dockets vary by jurisdiction, case type, and whether the case has been sealed or expunged. Understanding what a court docket contains, who can access it, and how it ends up in Google search results is the first step to addressing docket information online.
By Anthony WillEst. 2013Published May 27, 2026Read time: 10 min
We remove court records from Google — you only pay after it's gone.
No upfront paymentNo retainerA+ BBB Rated5,000+ cases handledIn business since 2013Only pay for results100% confidential
A court docket is the official register or calendar of a court case. It contains a chronological list of all actions taken in a case - filings, motions, hearings, orders, and judgments. In federal courts, this is managed through the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system. In state courts, dockets are maintained by the court clerk and vary widely in terms of online accessibility. For more information, visit the PACER.
Docket entries typically include:
Case number, filing date, and court location
Names of parties (plaintiff/defendant), attorneys, and judges
Each filing with its date and brief description
Hearing dates, continuances, and dispositions
Final judgment or sentence
Are Federal Court Dockets Public?
Yes. Federal court dockets are presumptively public under the First Amendment and common law right of access. They are accessible through PACER (pacer.gov) for a per-page fee. CourtListener (courtlistener.com), operated by the Free Law Project, provides free access to millions of federal court dockets and has indexed them extensively - making them searchable via Google. For more information, visit the US Courts public access.
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.
Federal dockets can be sealed in whole or in part by court order, but the default presumption is public access. Grand jury materials, certain juvenile records, and some national security matters are routinely sealed. Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
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.
Generally yes, but with significant variation. Most states make criminal and civil court dockets publicly accessible - either in person at the courthouse or through online portals. However: Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
Family court, juvenile, and probate records are often restricted or confidential by default
Mental health, adoption, and certain domestic relations cases are typically sealed
Expunged records are removed from public dockets after court order
Some states restrict remote online access even for records accessible in person
How Do Court Dockets End Up on Google?
Several pathways bring court docket information into Google search results:
CourtListener: Systematically indexes federal court dockets and makes them freely searchable. Google heavily indexes CourtListener pages.
Justia, FindLaw, Casetext: Republish court opinions and case summaries drawing from docket data.
State court portals: Many state court websites allow public name searches and are indexed by Google.
Data brokers: Aggregate public record data including court docket information into searchable people profiles.
News sites: Coverage of notable cases references docket information and is permanently indexed.
Can Court Dockets Be Removed from Google?
Directly removing docket information from official court systems requires a court order (expungement, sealing, or similar relief). After official records are restricted, you can:
Submit removal requests to CourtListener, Justia, and other aggregators with documentation of your court order
Use Google's Personal Information Removal Tool to request de-indexing of pages showing restricted records
Opt out of data broker profiles that republish docket information
For federal dockets, contact PACER and the specific court clerk - some federal courts will restrict docket access after sealing
Free Consultation
Is your court docket showing online? Find out — free.
Tell us about your situation and a removal specialist will personally review it and respond within one business day. No pressure, no obligation.
No upfront payment — you only pay if we succeedA+ BBB Rated · 5,000+ Cases Handled · Since 2013100% Confidential · Response within 1 business day
Frequently Asked Questions
Are court dockets public record?
In the United States, court dockets are generally public record. Federal court dockets are accessible through PACER and indexed by CourtListener. State court dockets are public in most states, though family court, juvenile, and sealed records are restricted. The degree of online accessibility varies by state and court system.
Can I remove my name from a court docket?
Removing your name from an official court docket requires a court order - such as expungement, sealing, or a name-redaction order in specific circumstances. Without a court order, the docket entry remains public. After a sealing or expungement order, you can request removal from third-party sites like CourtListener and Justia, and use Google's Personal Information Removal Tool.
Does CourtListener show all court dockets?
CourtListener focuses primarily on federal court dockets (all district and appellate courts) and some state appellate decisions. It does not cover all state trial court dockets. Federal district court civil and criminal dockets are heavily represented. CourtListener makes its data available through a free public interface that Google extensively indexes.
Are sealed court dockets visible online?
A sealed court docket is restricted from public access on official court systems. However, if the docket was indexed by Google or third-party sites before sealing, those cached pages may still appear in search results. After sealing, you can request removal from these third-party sources and use Google's de-indexing tools - but this requires active effort.
How do I find someone's court docket?
For federal cases, search PACER (pacer.gov) or CourtListener (courtlistener.com) by party name, case number, or attorney. For state cases, search your state's court portal - most states have online name-based lookup systems for criminal and civil cases. Data broker sites also aggregate court docket information into searchable people profiles.