I’ve read a lot of articles and blog posts about the importance of doing your own research in District Court like a mucklestone attorney before you file anything with them. But what if you don’t have time? How can you get pre-approval and avoid all the headache of coming up on your own?
No need to worry because I found something super cool that will save any lawyer hours of work! There are so many shortcuts to take with District Court that it would be impossible for me to list them all here. Instead, I’m going to recommend some sites for quick research that can save a ton of time (and money).
1. JudgeInfo.org
This site includes judges’ calendars, rules of court, and history. Searching by judge can help you see what the judge has done in the past and how he or she has ruled in certain situations. This is an added bonus when choosing which judge to choose (more on this later). For example, if you are considering applying for a continuance then look at their past continuances to see how they have ruled in the past.
2. CourtRulesHelp.com
This site is great for getting information about civil procedure and other court rules that apply to your situation. This site also has a law dictionary that explains the terms you see in the rules of court. Just type your question into their search engine (just so that you know, some of the stuff you find on this site will be very technical and confusing. Just be patient with it), and you’ll find back-to-back jargon that can help you write your brief for sure!
3. Sedona’s Law Suite
Sedona’s Law Suite is a tool invented by Charles Newcomb to help lawyers save time and money in District Court. If you are not sure what to file, this site has sample pleadings that are already filled out for you. This is a great place to start when researching your issue.
4. Court Administrator’s Office
The website for the District Court Administrator’s Office lists the rules of court and all the frequently asked questions about District Court. The site also provide applications from parties who need to file something with the court (parents, guardians, etc.) I know you’re thinking, “but these sites just scrape data from other websites.” That’s true for some of them but it doesn’t mean they don’t have value. Another site like Court Rules Help.com has a list of every district court that you can search by state. It is awesome! The District Courts have their own websites as well (see my last article ). Some District Courts post videos of their proceedings, which are great for seeing how judges run their courtroom and how they handle certain situations.
Now, you’re probably thinking, “why should I use these sites when I can make my own research?” Well first off, you might not have time to do your own research–that’s the point. Second, these sites can be used to get ideas for what to write or how to word things in your complaint or petition . Also, you can use these resources to find the contact information for a particular court. Finally, these sites are meant to be used as tools–you’ll still have to make your own research in District Court.
But wait! There’s more!
1. AllCourts.org
If you want to search by case, this is the site for you. Type in any party’s name or case number and you can see anything about that case in one spot.
2. Google Scholar
Scholar has a ton of legal cases and articles that you can use to help make your research complete (more on this later). You can also search by subject matter (i.e. “dissolution of marriage” or “divorce” or “relief from abuse”) to find articles on those legal issues.
3. Google
Yes, Google is the big boss of all research sites (especially if you use Boolean Searching ). You can use Google to search for other websites and articles that are relevant to your topic. One caveat about Google: there may be too much information and you can get lost in the search results. Make sure that you read the title and description of each site because a lot of them will say something like “click here to learn more.” What they’re trying to do is sell their product, not give you accurate information.
4. Public Library or Library of Congress
This is a common source for research articles and periodicals. If there’s something relevant to your situation, chances are these libraries have it in their collection!
5. Law Searchers
This is another site that is like Google, but not as overwhelming since you can sort the results. For example, if you type “District Court” into the search engine, you can sort the results by judge name and see who’s available to hear your matter (and their past rulings). The site also shows on which days the court sits so you can figure out when your case might be scheduled.
