Volunteer with Habeas Dockets
Help Us Gather Court Documents
We need volunteers to visit federal courthouses and access documents that are restricted from remote electronic access under FRCP 5.2(c). This is important work that helps ensure public transparency in immigration-related legal proceedings.
What Volunteers Do:
- Visit federal courthouse public terminals
- Access and print specific documents we identify
- Scan the documents and upload PDFs through our secure system
- Follow clear instructions to ensure document authenticity
Become a Volunteer
Questions About Volunteering
Is this legal?
Yes. We only access documents that are already public record. FRCP 5.2(c) restricts remote access but not in-person access at courthouse terminals. Read more at our FAQ.
What time commitment is required?
Flexible. We work with your schedule. We aim to have several volunteers in each district where there are active cases, helping to retrieve and scan documents. A typical courthouse visit takes about an hour, and then there is the time needed to scan or mail the printed documents.
Do I need legal experience?
No, legal experience is not required. We provide clear instructions for all volunteers, and anyone can visit the Clerk of the Court's office after showing ID to the courthouse security.
Are there any costs to volunteers?
Volunteers cover their own transportation to courthouses. Document printing at courthouse terminals will have a fee (typically $0.10 per page), which we reimburse. If you are not able to scan the printouts to PDF format, we ask that you cover postage costs, if you are able to do so.
How do I get started?
Submit the form above and we'll contact you with next steps, including verification and training materials.