Access to State and Federal Courts

Federal Courts

There are two ways in which you can get information from the federal court system, through attending court proceedings and through accessing court records. For more information, visit the following pages:

State Courts

State courts have their own sets of rules and procedures. For more information, visit the following pages:

  • State Court Proceedings - Describes your right to attend state court proceedings.

  • State Court Records - Describes your right to access state court records and provides information on why your request may be denied, and how to appeal a denial.

Real-Time Coverage of Court Proceedings

If you are considering providing live coverage of court proceedings through Twitter, live-blogging, or other social media tools, you will want to read the section on Live-Blogging and Tweeting from Court. Various court rules may affect your ability to provide real-time coverage of court proceedings.  These pages provide practical advice on how to avoid legal trouble if you intend to provide live coverage from inside the courthouse, including interviews with journalists and bloggers who have navigated these waters.

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