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How can I locate and download PACER or court-published documents for 5:16-cv-00797-DMG-KS?
Executive summary
Public copies of documents from case 5:16-cv-00797-DMG-KS (Katie Johnson v. Donald J. Trump et al.) are available online through multiple third‑party archives and dockets; the complaint and at least a few docket entries appear on Internet Archive, FactCheck/CDN, CourtListener/RECAP listings, PacerMonitor, and other mirror sites (e.g., Complaint file dated 04/26/2016) [1] [2] [3] [4]. Official PACER remains the source of record, but community archives and commercial scrapers provide free downloads of several filings [3] [4].
1. How to find the official PACER docket and why PACER matters
The federal courts’ official electronic filing system (PACER) is the authoritative source for all filings and docket entries; it’s where you’ll find the complete docket history and certified copies if you need them. CourtListener’s docket page for Katie Johnson v. Donald J. Trump references PACER identifiers and uses the RECAP community to surface documents bought from PACER, confirming PACER’s central role for the case [3].
2. Free mirrors and archives that already host filings
Multiple third‑party archives host copies of filings for 5:16‑cv‑00797. The Internet Archive hosts PDFs labeled with the case number, including Document 5 and Document 3, and a full-text stream of the complaint (Document 1) [1] [5] [6]. FactCheck’s CDN and Yumpu mirrors also show the complaint pages [2] [7]. These mirrors let you download complaint pages and other filings without PACER fees [1] [2].
3. Commercial docket aggregators and their convenience vs. limits
Services such as PacerMonitor and PlainSite index the case and provide downloadable PDFs or links to filings; PacerMonitor shows filing metadata (e.g., “COMPLAINT against defendants Jeffrey E. Epstein, Donald J. Trump” filed 04/26/2016) and offers quick access to listed PDFs [4] [8]. These sites may cache or rehost documents but aren’t the official court system; they’re useful for easy searches and bulk access when the specific documents you need are present [4].
4. CourtListener / RECAP: a hybrid community option
CourtListener’s docket for this case aggregates filings and explains the RECAP model: when users buy PACER documents using the RECAP extension, copies are added to the public archive and become freely accessible [3] [9]. CourtListener links often point back to hosted PDFs or to where RECAP copies live; if a document hasn’t been RECAP’d, CourtListener may show placeholders indicating community interest [3].
5. What specific documents are findable now and where to download them
Available reporting and archive links indicate you can download the complaint (Document 1) and at least Documents 3 and 5 from Internet Archive and mirror sites; the archived URLs include direct PDF files labeled with the gov.uscourts.cacd.646485 identifier [1] [5] [6]. Commercial mirrors like Scribd, Yumpu, PDFCoffee, and Slideshare also host copies of the complaint and related PDFs [10] [7] [11] [12].
6. Accuracy, redaction, and legal caution when using mirrors
Mirrors often reproduce what was filed but may fail to reflect later docket activity (e.g., withdrawals, orders, seals) or court‑ordered redactions. The official PACER docket is the record for case status and sealed/redacted material; third‑party copies may omit updates or carry OCR errors seen in some archived text streams [3] [6]. If you need certified or up‑to‑date records for legal use, obtain them from PACER or the Clerk’s office (noted implicitly by the existence of PACER/RECAP workflows) [3].
7. Practical step‑by‑step to download documents now
- Search the Internet Archive links for gov.uscourts.cacd.646485 PDFs and download the listed Document 1, 3, 5 files directly [1] [5].
- Visit CourtListener’s docket page for the case to find additional links and RECAP copies if available [3].
- If a specific PDF is missing, check PacerMonitor and other aggregators for cached files or links [4].
- If you require the complete, current docket or certified copies, create a PACER account and pull records directly from the Central District of California PACER system; CourtListener documents can indicate which filings PACER contains [3].
8. Limitations of available reporting and next steps
Provided sources confirm several filings are hosted outside PACER but do not give a complete, authoritative docket history or confirm whether any filings were sealed or later amended; available sources do not mention a final disposition or later court orders beyond initial filings [1] [3] [4]. For full, current case status and certified documents contact PACER or the Central District of California Clerk’s Office, and use CourtListener/RECAP to avoid fees when community copies exist [3].
If you want, I can list the direct archive links found in the reporting so you can download the PDFs immediately.