Court case type codes explained for federal and state courts

A court case type code is a short label that classifies a case when it is filed. Clerks use it to route the case, set fees and run statistics. You see it inside the case number, on the civil cover sheet and in the docket header. If you have ever wondered what the letters in a number like 1:24-cv-01234 mean, this is the system behind them.

Where a case code appears

In federal courts, the case number usually has four parts: the office or division, the two digit year, a case type, and a sequence number. The type is the two letter part. Common federal types are cv for civil, cr for criminal, mj for magistrate judge matters, mc for miscellaneous cases and bk for bankruptcy. Adversary proceedings inside a bankruptcy use ap.

State courts use their own schemes. Some put a type prefix in the number, such as CV for civil or CR for criminal. Others use a separate case category or case type field in the docket and keep the number simple. The same letters can mean different things in different states, so always check the court's own list before you rely on a code in a filing or a records request.

Nature of suit codes on the federal civil cover sheet

Federal civil cases carry a second code, the nature of suit, taken from the civil cover sheet known as form JS 44. It is a three digit number that describes the kind of claim. A few of the common ones are listed below.

• 110 Insurance
• 190 Other contract
• 360 Other personal injury
• 440 Other civil rights
• 442 Employment
• 710 Fair Labor Standards Act
• 820 Copyright
• 830 Patent
• 840 Trademark

The nature of suit code is chosen by the filer, and the clerk can correct it. It affects statistics and sometimes the way the case is assigned, but it does not limit your claims. A case coded as 440 can still plead several theories.

Case type codes versus statute citations

A case type code classifies a lawsuit for administration. A statute citation, such as 42 U.S.C. § 1983, is the legal basis for a claim. People often confuse the two when they search for a case code online. If you are trying to find the law behind a claim, you want the statute, and the statute search is the better tool.

How to read a case code in practice

Start with the court. Federal court websites publish their case number format and PACER lists the type for each case. For a state court, look for the clerk's case type list, which is often a PDF on the court website. When a record request or e-filing form asks for the case type, use that list instead of a general chart.

When you cite a case in a brief, the case type code is not part of the citation. You cite the reporter, the court and the year, and you cite the docket number only for unreported decisions. That is where a citation checker earns its keep. Paste your draft into the citation checker to confirm that every reporter cite resolves to a real opinion.

Quick checklist

• Find the court's own list of case types before you choose a code.
• Read the letters in the case number as the case type, not as the judge or the county.
• Use the nature of suit code that fits the principal claim.
• Do not mix up case type codes with statute sections.
• Verify every citation in your draft before you file.