Find Court Cases by Name, Number, or Judge: What Works Best?

ByBNW TEAM

When you are trying to find court cases, one of the huge challenges is knowing the best way to search. You might wonder whether to search using the case number. Otherwise, you might be thinking whether to use the case name for searching or whether searching by judge can be the best. Each searching method has its strengths and limitations. When you understand how and when to use each option, you can save time and achieve better accuracy in search results. 

This blog discusses the three most common ways to find court cases and what works best in different circumstances.

Finding Court Cases by Name

You can choose this option if you know the names of the parties involved. If not both parties, you should know the name of at least one of the parties. This method works well when you know the partial or full name of the defendant or plaintiff. Also, it will work when you are researching a dispute that involves a company of a public figure. Otherwise, you can choose this method if you are revisiting a case that you have already read about or seen earlier.

Pros

  • Great to use to find all cases revolve around the same party
  • Works well for well-known or memorable case titles
  • Easy to use, even for beginners

Cons

  • Difficult if you know only the nickname of one of the parties
  • Spelling errors or name changes can affect outcomes
  • Not suitable if the defendant or the plaintiff has common names

Finding Cases by Case Number: Most Reliable and Accurate

Searching the platforms that help you find court cases using the case number is the most precise way to find the cases. The reason is that a case number is a unique identifier. In turn, incorrect messages and guesswork can be eliminated. This method works if you have been given an official case reference. It will help if you are tracking a particular ongoing case. Also, it will help if you need a direct and exact case file.

Pros

  • Avoids confusion with similar names or duplicate parties
  • Quickly shows up the exact case you are searching for
  • 100% accurate results if you use the correct case number

Cons

  • You must know the exact case number. Partial numbers rarely work
  • The numbering format used by different courts differs
  • Hard to use if you do not have the case number and are randomly researching

Finding Court Cases by Judge: Ideal for Pattern & Research Analysis

If you know that the particular case you are searching for was handled by a particular judge, you can search by the judge’s name. Through this search, you can find all cases handled by the particular judge. This method of searching for legal cases will be beneficial for lawyers, legal students, journalists, and researchers.

Pros

  • Best for academic analysis
  • Useful for comparing similar cases handled by a particular judge
  • Helps to identify judicial consistency and philosophy

Cons

  • Produces a large number of results in busy jurisdictions
  • May need extra filters
  • Not ideal if you are searching for a particular case.

Conclusion

So, the right search method to find court cases depends on your goal. Also, it depends on the platform you plan to use to get legal digital records.

Similar Posts