> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lava.so/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CourtListener

> U.S. legal data API providing court opinions, docket entries, judge profiles, financial disclosures, and PACER records via RECAP archive.

U.S. legal data API providing court opinions, docket entries, judge profiles, financial disclosures, and PACER records via RECAP archive. Best for legal research workflows — case law analysis, litigation monitoring, and judicial background checks. The most comprehensive open-access legal data API — unlike GLEIF (entity identification), CourtListener covers the full breadth of U.S. court proceedings.

2 example endpoints available through Lava's AI Gateway. See the [CourtListener API docs](https://www.courtlistener.com/help/api/rest/) for full documentation.

<Info>This provider is **managed** — no additional setup required.</Info>

<Info>This is a **catch-all provider** — any valid URL under `https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4` is supported. CourtListener legal data API. Construct URL as [https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/\&#123;endpoint\&#125;/](https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/\&#123;endpoint\&#125;/). Common endpoints: /search/?q=first+amendment\&type=o (opinions), /dockets/, /opinions/, /people/, /courts/. Note trailing slash is required. Auth is automatic. The endpoints below are curated examples.</Info>

## Endpoints

### Search court opinions

**GET** `https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/search/?q=first+amendment&type=o` — Free

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="SDK">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    const data = await lava.gateway('https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/search/?q=first+amendment&type=o', { method: 'GET' });
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="cURL">
    ```bash theme={null}
    curl "https://api.lava.so/v1/forward?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.courtlistener.com%2Fapi%2Frest%2Fv4%2Fsearch%2F%3Fq%3Dfirst%2Bamendment%26type%3Do" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $LAVA_SECRET_KEY"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Search dockets

**GET** `https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/search/?q=patent+infringement&type=d` — Free

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="SDK">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    const data = await lava.gateway('https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/search/?q=patent+infringement&type=d', { method: 'GET' });
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="cURL">
    ```bash theme={null}
    curl "https://api.lava.so/v1/forward?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.courtlistener.com%2Fapi%2Frest%2Fv4%2Fsearch%2F%3Fq%3Dpatent%2Binfringement%26type%3Dd" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $LAVA_SECRET_KEY"
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Next Steps

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  <Card title="All Providers" icon="grid" href="/gateway/supported-providers">
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  </Card>

  <Card title="Forward Proxy" icon="route" href="/gateway/forward-proxy">
    Learn how to construct proxy URLs and authenticate requests
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
