A case file is the complete collection of the documents filed in a court case. It typically includes pleadings, motions, orders, briefs, and other records created or submitted as the case moves forward.

The case file is broader than the Docket, which is the chronological summary or index used to track what has been filed and what has happened in the case.

Case File Explained

The Ninth Circuit glossary defines a case file as a complete collection of every document filed in court in a case. Ninth Circuit library guidance on locating briefs and older appellate records also shows that case materials are retained, transferred, and accessed as a body of filed documents rather than as a single short summary.

The Term Case File in Different Legal Contexts

Case files exist in civil, criminal, appellate, and bankruptcy matters. They can contain everything from the initiating complaint or petition to later motions, exhibits, orders, briefs, and closing documents, depending on the court and the stage of the proceeding.

Access to a case file may depend on court rules, privacy restrictions, sealing orders, and whether the records are still held by the court or have been transferred to an archive.

Common Misconceptions About the Meaning of Case File

A common misconception is that a case file means only the papers currently sitting in the courtroom. In practice, it refers to the full set of filed case records, whether stored electronically, physically, or in an archive.

Another misconception is that the case file and the docket are interchangeable. The docket tracks the history of the case, while the case file contains the underlying documents themselves.