Data Sources
Where LawForge data comes from and what it covers
Data Sources
LawForge provides access to comprehensive legal data from open, verifiable sources. Understanding what data is available helps you know what questions you can answer.
Court Opinions
LawForge includes 4.7+ million court opinions spanning federal and state courts.
Federal Courts
| Court | Coverage | Typical Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court (SCOTUS) | 1791 - Present | ~35,000 opinions |
| Circuit Courts | Comprehensive | ~125,000+ per circuit |
| District Courts | Selected published opinions | Varies |
| Bankruptcy Courts | Selected opinions | Limited |
| Tax Court | Comprehensive | ~50,000 opinions |
The federal court system has three main levels:
- District Courts - Trial courts where cases begin
- Circuit Courts - Appellate courts that review district court decisions
- Supreme Court - Final appellate court for constitutional questions
State Courts
Coverage varies by state. Most state supreme court and appellate decisions are available:
| Coverage Level | States |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive | CA, NY, TX, FL, IL, PA, OH, MI |
| Good | Most other states |
| Limited | Some territories |
State court structures vary, but generally mirror the federal system with trial, appellate, and supreme court levels.
Docket Entries
The RECAP Archive provides 200+ million docket entries from federal courts.
What's in a Docket
Dockets are the official records of case proceedings:
- Filings - Motions, briefs, orders, judgments
- Parties - Plaintiffs, defendants, intervenors
- Attorneys - Counsel appearances and withdrawals
- Events - Hearings, conferences, deadlines
Why Dockets Matter
Court opinions tell you how a case was decided. Dockets tell you:
- The full procedural history
- What arguments were raised (even if not in the final opinion)
- Who was involved at each stage
- How long the case took
Federal Regulations (eCFR)
Full-text search of the Code of Federal Regulations via the official eCFR API.
What Regulations Cover
Federal regulations implement statutes passed by Congress. Key areas include:
| Title | Agency | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | FDA | Food and Drugs |
| 26 | IRS | Internal Revenue |
| 29 | DOL | Labor (OSHA, ERISA) |
| 40 | EPA | Environmental Protection |
| 42 | CMS | Public Health (Medicare) |
Regulations vs. Statutes
- Statutes are laws passed by Congress
- Regulations are rules issued by agencies to implement statutes
- Case law interprets both
Citation Network
LawForge indexes how cases cite each other, creating a network of legal precedent.
Why Citations Matter
Legal citations are more than references - they're the structure of legal reasoning:
- Positive citations - Case supports a proposition
- Distinguishing - Case is acknowledged but limited
- Negative citations - Case is criticized or overruled
Following citations helps you understand:
- How established a legal principle is
- Whether a case is still good law
- How courts in different jurisdictions apply precedent
Data Freshness
| Source | Update Frequency |
|---|---|
| Federal opinions | Daily |
| State opinions | Weekly |
| RECAP dockets | Real-time (as uploaded) |
| eCFR | Per official updates |
Limitations
LawForge is not a replacement for comprehensive legal research services like Westlaw or LexisNexis.
Our data comes from open sources and may not include:
- Proprietary annotations and headnotes
- Key numbers and topic classifications
- Some unpublished opinions
- Real-time case alerts
- Negative treatment analysis
For critical legal research, always verify findings with authoritative sources and consult qualified legal professionals.
Source Attribution
LawForge data is sourced from:
- CourtListener - Free Law Project
- RECAP Archive - PACER documents
- eCFR - Official federal regulations