How to Set an Alert to Track When a New Case Involving a Specific Judge Is Filed

Table of Contents

1. Setting a Judge Alert from a Ruling or Document Page
2. Setting a Judge Alert from a Docket Page
3. Setting a Judge Alert by Running a Smart Search Query
4. Adding Alert Recipients / Excluding Yourself from Notifications

You can set an Alert to receive notifications whenever a new case involving a specific judge is filed.  There are two methods of setting a judge Alert:

• You can set a judge Alert from any page that lists the judge’s name, whether it be a Ruling, Docket, or Document page.  Simply click the “Track Judge’s New Cases” button next to the judge name. 
• Alternatively, simply run a search of the judge on Smart Search.  After running the search, if you click the Dockets tab, then click the “Track New Cases” button beneath the search bar, we’ll email you when new Dockets that trigger your Alert appear on Trellis.

Setting a Judge Alert from a Ruling or Document Page

If you’re on a Ruling or Document page, you may click “Track Judge’s New Cases” on the right hand column under “Case Information.”  The button will be next to the judge’s name:

Setting a Judge Alert from a Docket Page

If you’re on a Docket page, under the section titled “Case Details,” you may click the “Track Judge’s New Cases” button next to the judge’s name.  

Setting a Judge Alert by Running a Smart Search Query

Alternatively, you can set a judge Alert by simply running a search of the judge on Smart Search.  If you click “Track New Cases after running the search, we’ll email you when new Dockets that trigger your Alert appear on Trellis.

1. First, enter the judge name on Smart Search.  We recommend starting with the Boolean operator judge:last-name.  (Do not include any spaces between judge:last-name.)
   
    
   

   🔎  Use judge:last-name when you only want to be Alerted on new Dockets that have a specific judge listed as the judge of record on the case Docket.  Keep in mind that every state and county lists judge information differently on their Dockets.  In fact, some courts don’t list the judge’s name at all on their Dockets, choosing only to display the judge’s department number.  Please check how your jurisdiction/court lists this information – you may conduct an easy spot check using Smart Search.  Alternatively, you can always try searching the judge’s full name in quotation marks:

   

2. Second, you may use Boolean operators (like AND) with other keywords to focus your search.  For example, you may try narrowing by practice area / case type so that you’re notified whenever a new case of a particular practice area / case type is filed involving a specific party.
   
    
   

   🔎   If you opt to include keywords pertaining to a specific case type, keep in mind that every state and county lists this information differently on their Dockets.  Some states and counties don’t list this information at all.  We’ll only send you Alert emails when newly filed case Dockets contain your exact keyphrases.  Please check how your jurisdiction/court lists this information – you may conduct an easy spot check using Smart Search. Alternatively, try using variations of case type wording if you’re unsure how your state / county lists such information on their Dockets.  

3. Third, select one or more states you want to search in (CA, NY, TX, etc.) using the dropdown menu to the right of the search bar.  When you have a particular state selected, you are searching across the state trial courts of that state.  
   
   
4. Fourth, run the search, click the Dockets tab, then click the “Track New Cases” button underneath the search bar. 
   
   
   
   

Adding Alert Recipients / Excluding Yourself from Notifications

1. Once you click the “Track New Cases'' button, we’ll display a pop-up notification that your Alert has been confirmed.
   
   
2. Here, you’ll have the option of setting this Alert for other recipients as well.  Simply click the “Add other recipients'' button and input their email address.  If adding multiple recipients, use commas to separate the email addresses.    
   
   You’ll also have the option of setting the Alert for someone else but excluding yourself from any Alert notifications.  Simply click “Exclude myself from this Alert.”