Free Legal Information

The Federal Courts include the Bankruptcy, Districts, Appellate (includes various appeals from patents, international trade, NLRB, tax court, etc.), and Supreme Courts.  

U.S. Courts

• Information about location, judges, forms, and more 
• Official and Current Rules of Practice and Procedure
  • Federal Judicial Center (unofficial rules)
• National Forms

Federal Courts in California

• California is divided into four districts, with a bankruptcy court in each district. 
  • Northern District
    • Bankruptcy Court
  • Eastern District
    • Bankruptcy Court
  • Central District
    • Bankruptcy Court
  • Southern District
    • Bankruptcy Court
• The Court of Appeals is divided into twelve circuits, California is in the Ninth Circuit.
  • Ninth Circuit

Case law, also known as "common law" or "case precedent" comes from decisions made be courts and are published in books called reporters, the online version of these books are also called reporters. Cases interpret and apply statutory law and regulations, creating and refining the common law. 

U.S. Courts

• Official court opinions April 2004-present provided by the Government Publishing Office
• Includes Appellate, District, Bankruptcy, and International Trade  

Supreme Court Opinions 

• Official court opinions 1988-present

Google Scholar

• Unofficial published U.S. Supreme Court cases since 1791 and U.S. federal cases since 1923.