Most bankruptcy cases are heard in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts which are part of the federal district court. Appeals may than be taken to the district courts, circuit courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.
Most bankruptcy-related decisions are routine and do not result in written opinions. Unlike federal district court opinions which are published in the Federal Supplement, bankruptcy court decisions do not appear in any official reporter. Rather bankruptcy court opinions are found in West's Bankruptcy Reporter and several online databases.
Online Resources
Print Resources
Google Scholar (scholar.google.com), a separate search service from Google, provides access to state and federal cases. Narrow your search results by jurisdiction and date. Google Scholar also includes a "How Cited" feature that allows you to see other cases that cite to your case.
Many lawyers in Illinois obtain access to Fastcase through the Illinois State Bar Association, which provides free access to the database as a benefit to its members.
See our Free Internet Legal Resource Guide for additional information about free legal resources.