

The docket number above tells us that this case was filed in 2014, with the sequence number 12345. The docket number 2:14-cv-123456 may refer to a case filed in Los Angeles (court 2 in the Central District of California), Memphis (court 2 in the Western District of Tennessee), Phoenix (court 2 in the District of Arizona), or any other court assigned the number 2 within its district.The docket number 14-1234 might refer to a 2014 appellate case filed in any of the circuits or the Supreme Court.As a result, the same docket number may be assigned to different cases in different courts. 2:14-cv-123456).Įach circuit and district assigns docket numbers independently but uses the same basic format. the judge's initials, and are commonly skipped (2:14-cv-123456-ABC-RZ vs. Letters at the end of the number are usually local notes such as, e.g.Letters indicating case type are often skipped (2:14-ap-123456 vs.Skipping or altering parts of the docket number.Skipping or adding leading zeros (7-4771 vs.Skipping or altering punctuation (2:14-ap-123456 vs.

To view this information, navigate to the court's page in Westlaw's Dockets section and then click the i symbol beneath the court's name. Westlaw's source information for the court, which generally explains how the court assigns docket numbers.To learn how a specific court assigns docket numbers, check: A sequence number, randomly assigned to each case as it is filed.

Sequential numbers meaning series#
The next series of digits is the actual sequential number of the case beginning from 00001 in the current year. The third digit is used to designate the case type. The first two digits of the case number are used to indicate the year the case was filed. The Court Directory provides contact information for Washington State courts. If you want to know the meaning of a certain district or municipal court's case number format, contact the court. Although certain courts may attach specific meaning to the case numbers used by their court (such as court branch, type of case, year filed, etc.), these case numbers have no particular meaning to others outside of the court. Such case numbers may consist of all numbers, numbers and letters, or even include other characters such as a dash (-). District and Municipal Court Case Number Format:Ĭase numbers assigned by courts of limited jurisdiction (district and municipal courts) are determined by each court.
