1-2. How do I obtain case information, or view court documents and briefs?
All appellate court case numbers in Division Three begin with the prefix "G0," followed by five digits. This number is commonly called the "G number."
A. On-line Information.
1) The California Appellate Courts Case Information System (click here) provides case information for those matters pending before the court. At this web site, you can view a case summary and docket, including the names of parties and attorneys, trial court information, list of scheduled actions, when briefs or other applications and motions were filed, and dispositions. Juvenile records are not available as they are considered confidential. Case information is updated once an hour throughout the business day.
2) Viewing of documents on the web site is not yet available.
3) You also may be able to copies of appellate briefs online through legal databases like Westlaw or Lexis/Nexis.
4) Click here to sign up for e-mail notification about a specific case.
B. Clerk's Office
1) Telephone the clerk's office (714-558-6777) for further questions about the status of an appeal, or about appellate procedures in Division Three. Try to know your "G number" (appellate court number, beginning with the prefix "G0"). Remember that the clerk's office is not allowed to practice law or give legal advice.
2) Documents and briefs in pending cases may be viewed by visiting the clerk's office. Many people also use copy services to review files and make copies. There also is a pay copier available for your use, at a cost of $.25 per page. Click here for driving and parking directions to the clerk's office.
C. Law Libraries
1) The Orange County Law Library is located at 515 North Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703, telephone 714-834-3397. Click here 
for a link to the library's website, which contains an "Ask the Librarian" feature to allow you to submit research questions by e-mail directly to county law librarians.
2) Four California law libraries (but not the Orange County Law Library) serve as depositories for appellate briefs. Their collection holdings vary. Please contact the libraries for information about their briefs, including years covered and format. Each library's web site provides information about location, hours of service, and telephone numbers.
D. Old Files. Old appeals are located in an off-site storage facility, and may take approximately seven to fifteen days to retrieve. You must make a written request, including your contact information, and pay in advance for the retrieval costs (generally charged per box). Telephone the clerk's office at 714-558-6777 for more information about how to obtain old records, and the fees, if any.
