About Habeas Dockets

Our Mission

Habeas Dockets enhances public access to federal habeas corpus case documents that are restricted under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (FRCP) 5.2(c). We believe that in a democratic society, access to primary legal materials in cases of profound public importance should be swift, comprehensive and unhindered by outdated procedural hurdles.

The Problem: FRCP 5.2(c) Restrictions

FRCP 5.2(c) limits remote electronic access to documents in immigration-related cases, including habeas corpus petitions. While these documents are technically public and accessible via public terminals at federal courthouses, this restriction severely curtails timely access for journalists, academics, attorneys and the general public. [1]

Our Solution

We coordinate a network of vetted volunteers to lawfully access these documents from courthouse public terminals and make them available online. All documents undergo review for authenticity and to ensure no sensitive personal information is inadvertently included.

[1]: https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/03/19/how-feds-took-control-of-the-narrative-in-deportation-of-brown-medicine-kidney-doctor/

How It Works

1. Case Identification

We identify relevant habeas corpus cases using PACER Case Locator API queries and integrate with RECAP to track document availability.

2. Volunteer Coordination

Vetted volunteers access public terminals in federal courthouses to retrieve documents that are not available remotely due to FRCP 5.2(c) restrictions.

3. Document Review

All acquired documents undergo review to verify authenticity and check for any inadvertently included sensitive personal identifiers.

4. Public Access

Reviewed documents are made available through our website, with links to RECAP and PACER when documents are available through those sources.

Legal Foundation

FRCP 5.2(c) restricts the method of access, not the dissemination of otherwise public information. Our approach leverages this distinction to bridge the gap between technical public access and practical public availability.

Acknowledgments

This project is inspired by the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse for their model of displaying dockets with links to various sources, and the Free Law Project / CourtListener for their pioneering work in liberating PACER documents. Habeas Dockets aims to complement their efforts by focusing on documents they cannot easily incorporate due to sourcing policies.

Find more information about Habeas Dockets on our FAQ.