This page describes the various documents that may be related to a Supreme Court opinion and where you can find them. For information about finding Supreme Court Opinions, see the General Research page of this Guide.
The docket sheet for the case is the formal record, maintained by the court, which lists all of the proceedings and filings in a particular case - usually in reverse chronological order. Essentially, a docket sheet (often just called "docket") is a list of all the briefs, petitions, motions, and other filings and actions that take place as the case progresses.
Once a case has been granted Writ of Certiorari, it is put on the Court's calendar (also called a "docket") and given a docket number. The docket sheet allows a researcher to find the document they are looking for, and the date it was filed.
Finding the Docket Number
The resources below organize resources by docket, among other categories. Official docket information is found on the Supreme Court's website.
Types of Briefs
When a litigant is dissatisfied with an appellate court opinion, they may file a Petition for Writ of Certiorari outlining the reasons the Court should hear their case. The Petition for Writ is a brief that includes the questions presented, the parties to the proceedings, the opinions below and how they erred, why the Court has jurisdiction, relevant law, and other information relevant to the Court's decision to grant cert.
Find the docket for a particular case, and the Petition for Writ of Certiorari is generally the earliest item listed.
When the Court agrees to hear a case, attorneys for both sides present arguments in written documents called briefs on the merits. These briefs contain legal theories, case-law analysis, and citations to both primary and secondary sources. When relevant, the lower court record may be submitted with the briefs, and may contain motions and pleadings, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, jury instructions, and the lower court opinion, if any.
Sources online
Lower Court Dockets
A Petition for Writ of Certiorari is filed following a ruling by lower appellate court. As a result, the Petition for Writ is often included as part of the lower court's docket. Petitions for Writ that are not available among Supreme Court records (perhaps because the Petition was denied) may be found through the lower court's docket. Note that the docket number of the lower court would be different from a Supreme Court docket number.
Sources in the physical collection
Supreme Court Depository Libraries
Certain libraries around the country are designated Supreme Court Depository Libraries, including Law Library of the University of Minnesota Law Center and the Law Library of Congress. These libraries hold a complete collection of printed Supreme Court briefs, including briefs of cases which did not go to oral argument.
A listing of Depository Libraries can be found on the Supreme Court's website. If you are unable to locate briefs through the means listed above, please contact one of the listed libraries for assistance.
Oral Arguments
Attorneys also often present their arguments orally during appeal. Oral arguments usually consist of summaries of the main arguments made in the briefs and include attorneys' answers to questions from the bench. Records, briefs and oral argument transcripts may be used to shed light on a court's decision in a particular case or to develop an argument or line of reasoning in a similar case.
Audio Recordings
The practice of making audio recordings of all oral arguments began in 1955. The National Archives and Records Administration is the official repository for the Court’s audio recordings. Learn about the history of recording Supreme Court audio on Oyez, below.
These websites provide access to audio recordings of certain Supreme Court oral arguments.
Physical Resources
The following physical materials in the MLaw collection may include oral argument transcripts.
Historical Perspective
The Supreme Court Historical Society includes a curated list of Significant Oral Arguments of the Supreme Court 1955-1993, as well as a History of Oral Advocacy - Women Advocates which is an essay on the history of women who have advocated before the Supreme Court with supporting data.
“Slip” opinions are the first version of the Court’s opinions, which are posted on the Supreme Court's website long before they are printed in a reporter. A “slip” opinion consists of the majority or principal opinion, any concurring or dissenting opinions written by the Justices, and a prefatory syllabus prepared by the Reporter’s Office that summarizes the decision.
Like any other court, litigants before the Supreme Court must abide by specific rules regarding pleadings, timing, and other practice matters.
Due to their expense, overwhelming quantity, and relative lack of legal significance, the Law Library has very few trial transcripts. For important trials we may have excerpts from the trial records, partial trial records published in records and briefs collections, or second-hand accounts of the trial.
To identify trials for which the Library does have materials, either primary or secondary, consult the MLaw Catalog, using the defendant's name to search as a keyword, subject, or author. For civil trials, search under the full or popular name of the case. Trial transcripts not owned by the University of Michigan Law Library can be obtained by contacting the court in which the trial was held.
Note that, as a court of last resort, the Supreme Court rarely conducts trials. The primary interaction between attorneys and Justices in the Supreme Court are oral arguments.
Call us at 734-764-9324
Text us at 734-329-5606
Email us at askalawlibrarian@umich.edu. Emails are answered by Librarians during standard business hours, Monday-Friday. Patrons may expect a response within 1-2 business days for most emails.
Consult with us. Schedule an appointment to meet with a Reference Librarian.
Visit us at the Information Desk on Sub-1 for immediate in-person assistance. Open 8 am - midnight, Sunday-Thursday, and 8am - 10pm, Friday-Saturday*
The chat service is available to all of our patrons but is designed to meet the legal research needs of U-M students, staff, and faculty.
Chat is monitored from 1-6 pm Monday-Wednesday and 1-5 pm Thursday-Friday on days when class is in session.
*Excluding University holidays and semester breaks--check library hours for more information. The Building and library are available to law school community ONLY after 6 pm, and are closed to all but law school community on home football Saturdays.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, as governed by Article III, Section 2 of the U. S. Constitution and Title 28, section 1251 of the U. S. Code. Cases over which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction include disputes between States, usually over territorial or water rights. Cases that are tried only in the Supreme Court are known as "Original cases."
Special Masters are individuals appointed to conduct a preliminary review of Original cases that the Court has allowed to be filed before it. Special Masters are usually experienced attorneys or retired judges who are tasked with making recommendations for decisions on the merits.
Since 2007, the Supreme Court has posted Special Masters reports on its website, and it has added certain older reports to the site, as well.