# PACER RECAP Federal Docket Scraper (`jungle_synthesizer/pacer-recap-docket-scraper`) Actor Scrape federal court docket data from the free RECAP archive via the CourtListener API. Search by keyword, court, date range, or jurisdiction. Returns case metadata, parties, attorneys, filing dates, and document links for millions of federal cases. - **URL**: https://apify.com/jungle\_synthesizer/pacer-recap-docket-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [BowTiedRaccoon](https://apify.com/jungle_synthesizer) (community) - **Categories:** Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## PACER RECAP Federal Docket Scraper Retrieve federal court docket data from the free PACER RECAP archive via the CourtListener API. Search across millions of federal cases (civil, criminal, and bankruptcy) by keyword, court, date range, or jurisdiction. Returns structured records for each case including parties, attorneys, filing dates, and links to publicly available RECAP documents. ### What This Actor Does The PACER RECAP project — maintained by the Free Law Project — has made millions of federal court dockets freely available that were originally behind the PACER paywall. This actor queries the CourtListener REST API to retrieve that data in a structured, ready-to-use format. **Data covered:** - All United States federal district courts (civil, criminal) - All United States federal bankruptcy courts (Chapters 7, 11, 13, 15) - Appeals courts with RECAP-archived filings - Millions of dockets dating back to the 1970s ### Use Cases - **Legal analytics:** Track litigation trends by court, jurisdiction, or nature of suit - **Due diligence:** Research litigation history for companies or individuals - **Bankruptcy monitoring:** Monitor Chapter 11 filings for specific companies or industries - **Academic research:** Analyze patterns in federal court filings over time - **Competitive intelligence:** Monitor IP litigation, product liability, or antitrust cases ### Input Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | |-----------|------|-------------| | `query` | String | Keywords to search case names, parties, and docket text. Leave blank to retrieve the most recent dockets. | | `courtId` | String | Filter by court ID (e.g. `cand` for N.D. Cal., `nysd` for S.D.N.Y., `deb` for D. Del. Bankruptcy). | | `caseType` | String | Filter by case type: blank = all RECAP dockets, `b` = bankruptcy cases only. | | `dateFiledAfter` | String | Only include cases filed on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD format). | | `dateFiledBefore` | String | Only include cases filed on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD format). | | `maxItems` | Integer | Maximum number of docket records to return. | ### Output Fields Each record includes: | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | `case_name` | Short case name (e.g. "Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics") | | `case_name_full` | Full case name as filed | | `docket_number` | Official docket number (e.g. "3:22-cv-01234") | | `docket_id` | CourtListener internal docket ID | | `court` | Full court name | | `court_id` | Short court identifier (e.g. "cand", "nysd") | | `court_citation_string` | Citation abbreviation (e.g. "N.D. Cal.") | | `date_filed` | Date the case was filed | | `date_terminated` | Date the case was terminated (if closed) | | `jurisdiction_type` | Jurisdiction type classification | | `nature_of_suit` | Nature of suit code or description | | `cause` | Statutory cause of action | | `jury_demand` | Whether a jury trial was demanded | | `chapter` | Bankruptcy chapter (7, 11, 13, etc.) for bankruptcy cases | | `assigned_to` | Assigned judge name | | `referred_to` | Referring judge name | | `pacer_case_id` | Original PACER case ID | | `parties` | Pipe-separated list of party names | | `attorneys` | Pipe-separated list of attorney names | | `firms` | Pipe-separated list of law firm names | | `recap_documents` | JSON array of available RECAP document links | | `docket_url` | Full CourtListener URL for the docket | | `source_url` | Direct API URL for the docket record | ### Example Output ```json { "case_name": "Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.", "docket_number": "5:11-cv-01846", "court": "United States District Court, N.D. California", "court_id": "cand", "date_filed": "2011-04-15", "date_terminated": "2018-06-27", "nature_of_suit": "Patent", "assigned_to": "Lucy H. Koh", "parties": "Apple Inc. | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.", "recap_documents": "[{\"url\": \"https://www.courtlistener.com/...\", \"desc\": \"Complaint\"}]", "docket_url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/1258091/apple-inc-v-samsung-electronics-co-ltd/", "source_url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/1258091/" } ```` ### Rate Limits The CourtListener API is free to use without authentication at standard rate limits. The actor includes built-in delays to stay within these limits. ### Data Source All data comes from the [CourtListener RECAP archive](https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/) maintained by the [Free Law Project](https://free.law/). RECAP data is donated by users of the PACER system and is freely available to the public. # Actor input Schema ## `sp_intended_usage` (type: `string`): Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler. ## `sp_improvement_suggestions` (type: `string`): Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements. ## `sp_contact` (type: `string`): Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you. ## `query` (type: `string`): Keywords to search across case names, party names, and docket text. Leave blank to retrieve the most recent dockets across all federal courts. ## `courtId` (type: `string`): Filter by federal court ID (e.g. "cand" for N.D. Cal., "nysd" for S.D.N.Y., "deb" for D. Del. Bankruptcy). Leave blank to search all federal courts. ## `caseType` (type: `string`): Filter by case type: blank = all RECAP dockets, "b" = bankruptcy cases only. The API type "r" (RECAP) is always set automatically. ## `dateFiledAfter` (type: `string`): Return only dockets filed on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD format). Useful for monitoring recent filings. ## `dateFiledBefore` (type: `string`): Return only dockets filed on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD format). ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of docket records to return. ## Actor input object example ```json { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Apple Inc", "maxItems": 10 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Apple Inc", "courtId": "", "caseType": "", "dateFiledAfter": "", "dateFiledBefore": "", "maxItems": 10 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/pacer-recap-docket-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Apple Inc", "courtId": "", "caseType": "", "dateFiledAfter": "", "dateFiledBefore": "", "maxItems": 10, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/pacer-recap-docket-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "query": "Apple Inc", "courtId": "", "caseType": "", "dateFiledAfter": "", "dateFiledBefore": "", "maxItems": 10 }' | apify call jungle_synthesizer/pacer-recap-docket-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=jungle_synthesizer/pacer-recap-docket-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "PACER RECAP Federal Docket Scraper", "description": "Scrape federal court docket data from the free RECAP archive via the CourtListener API. Search by keyword, court, date range, or jurisdiction. Returns case metadata, parties, attorneys, filing dates, and document links for millions of federal cases.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "2fShVvteEy6QC6tDw" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~pacer-recap-docket-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-jungle_synthesizer-pacer-recap-docket-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~pacer-recap-docket-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-jungle_synthesizer-pacer-recap-docket-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~pacer-recap-docket-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-jungle_synthesizer-pacer-recap-docket-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "maxItems" ], "properties": { "sp_intended_usage": { "title": "What is the intended usage of this data?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler." }, "sp_improvement_suggestions": { "title": "How can we improve this crawler for you?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements." }, "sp_contact": { "title": "Contact Email", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you." }, "query": { "title": "Search Query", "type": "string", "description": "Keywords to search across case names, party names, and docket text. Leave blank to retrieve the most recent dockets across all federal courts.\n" }, "courtId": { "title": "Court ID", "type": "string", "description": "Filter by federal court ID (e.g. \"cand\" for N.D. Cal., \"nysd\" for S.D.N.Y., \"deb\" for D. Del. Bankruptcy). Leave blank to search all federal courts.\n" }, "caseType": { "title": "Case Type", "enum": [ "", "r", "b" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter by case type: blank = all RECAP dockets, \"b\" = bankruptcy cases only. The API type \"r\" (RECAP) is always set automatically.\n" }, "dateFiledAfter": { "title": "Date Filed After", "type": "string", "description": "Return only dockets filed on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD format). Useful for monitoring recent filings.\n" }, "dateFiledBefore": { "title": "Date Filed Before", "type": "string", "description": "Return only dockets filed on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD format).\n" }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of docket records to return.", "default": 10 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```