How can I access the full filings and judge opinions for Case 5:16-cv-00797-DMG-KS?
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Executive summary
The federal docket for Case 5:16-cv-00797-DMG-KS can be accessed in multiple ways: the official source is PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) for complete filings and judge orders, while free mirrors and aggregators such as CourtListener/RECAP, Internet Archive, and several document-hosting sites already hold at least the complaint and some orders (including the dismissal order) [1] [2] [3]. Each route has tradeoffs: PACER is authoritative and complete but fee‑based, whereas archives and aggregators are free but may be partial or lag behind PACER [1] [4].
1. Start at PACER — the authoritative but paywalled record
To obtain every filing and every judge opinion for this Central District of California case, the definitive source is PACER, which stores the official docket and full-text PDF filings for federal cases; researchers can search by the case number 5:16-cv-00797-DMG-KS and download pleadings, orders, and docket entries (this is the system that CourtListener and other services mirror) [4] [1]. PACER requires account registration and charges per-page fees for downloads; it will hold the full complaint, motions, minute orders, and any judge-signed opinions if they exist on the docket [4].
2. Use CourtListener / RECAP for free copies and a docket overview
CourtListener aggregates PACER dockets and often hosts RECAP-copied PDFs of filings at no charge; the CourtListener docket for Katie Johnson v. Donald J. Trump (5:16-cv-00797) shows entries such as the complaint, the in forma pauperis filing, and the order denying IFP and dismissing the case — items that are sourced from PACER/RECAP and can be downloaded or viewed there [1] [4]. CourtListener’s docket page provides a chronological list and links to documents; it is therefore the recommended free starting point to assemble judge orders and the complaint before resorting to PACER for anything missing [1].
3. Search archive mirrors and document repositories for the complaint and related PDFs
Multiple public repositories have copies of the initial complaint and related PDFs: the Internet Archive hosts a package labeled “Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump child rape lawsuit” that includes the signed case documents, and specific complaint PDFs are available on mirrors such as the FactCheck upload and Yumpu copies of Document 1 filed 04/26/2016 [3] [5] [6]. These mirrors make it straightforward to read the complaint (Document 1) without fees, but their completeness varies and some later judicial orders may be absent [5] [3].
4. Commercial docket aggregators can speed searches but may require subscriptions
Commercial services like PACERMonitor and PlainSite index filings and provide downloadable PDFs and metadata; PACERMonitor has a public filing link for the complaint and notes case assignment to Judge Dolly M. Gee and Magistrate Judge Karen L. Stevenson [7]. These services can be convenient for bulk downloads or alerts but often require a subscription for full functionality, and their documents are drawn from PACER so they are not primary sources [7].
5. Confirm judge opinions and final disposition via docket entries and dockets’ text
The case’s docketed orders are reflected in aggregator summaries: CourtListener’s docket entry shows an Order denying the in forma pauperis request and stating the case was dismissed, attributed to Judge Dolly M. Gee [1]. For the exact phrasing, signature lines, and any written opinion explaining the dismissal, obtain the PDF order from PACER or RECAP/CourtListener; where RECAP has not captured that specific PDF, PACER is the fallback [1] [4].
6. Practical step‑by‑step plan to get everything
First, check CourtListener’s Katie Johnson docket page and download any available RECAP PDFs (free) [1] [4]. Second, search the Internet Archive and the FactCheck PDF link for the complaint and signed documents if they are not on CourtListener [3] [5]. Third, register for PACER to retrieve any missing filings or judge-signed orders and to ensure access to the complete, official docket [4]. If convenience or consolidated metadata is desired, consult PACERMonitor or PlainSite for copies or summaries, acknowledging possible subscription requirements [7] [8].
No provided source guarantees that every single judge opinion beyond the dismissal exists on public mirrors; when a signed opinion is not available in archives or on CourtListener, PACER remains the authoritative retrieval method [1] [4].