Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find briefs filed in federal and state cases?  

Search for briefs filed in federal and state cases in subscription-based databases.

• Bloomberg Law (All Legal Content > U.S. Courts > Court Briefs; You can also search Bloomberg's Dockets)
• Lexis Advance (Browse > Sources > By Category > Briefs, Pleadings and Motions)
• WestlawNext (All Content > Briefs)

You can find free access to briefs filed in U.S. Supreme Court cases on the following websites.

• American Bar Association (2003 to date)
• FindLaw (1999-2007)
• SCOTUSblog (2007 to date)
• Oyez Project (various)

You can find briefs filed in federal district, appellate, and bankruptcy cases in PACER. Students should note that PACER accounts are not free. If students cannot find the briefs they need in the other resources mentioned in this guide (Bloomberg, Lexis, and Westlaw should cover anything available in PACER), then they should contact a librarian to access PACER.

• PACER

You can find free copies of briefs filed in U.S. Supreme Court cases by the Solicitor General.

• Department of Justice (1982 to date)

You may find briefs filed in state cases on state court websites. The National Center for State Courts maintains a list of state court websites.

• National Center for State Courts

You can find print copies of briefs filed in major constitutional law cases since 1793 in Landmark Briefs and Arguments of the Supreme Court of the United States edited by Philip B. Kurland and Gerhard Casper.

• KF101.8 .K8 1975

You can find records of U.S. Supreme Court cases in the online and microform versions of U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs.

You may also find briefs using internet search engines such as Google.