National federal civil docket · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Business C-3
What kinds of cases fill the U.S. federal civil docket?
268,242 civil cases were commenced across the U.S. district courts in fiscal year 2024. They are not evenly spread: prisoner petitions (24%), civil rights (17%), and personal injury (other) (16%) lead the docket. Each category below shows its national share and how it splits between cases where the U.S. government is a party and cases between private parties.
Suits filed by people in prison or jail — habeas corpus challenges to a conviction or sentence, and civil-rights claims about conditions of confinement.
Discrimination, constitutional-rights, voting, disability (ADA), and § 1983 claims against officials or institutions.
Negligence injury claims not arising from a vehicle or a product.
Breach-of-contract and commercial disputes — debt, insurance, business deals.
Employment, wage-and-hour (FLSA), benefits (ERISA), and union disputes.
Residual civil filings not in a named category.
Appeals of denied Social Security disability or benefits decisions (the U.S. is the defendant).
Patent, copyright, and trademark suits — heavily concentrated in a few districts.
Injury claims from vehicle accidents.
Land, foreclosure, and condemnation actions.
Other civil-wrong (tort) claims.
Civil wrongs where the United States is a party.
Maritime/seaman injury claims (e.g., the Jones Act).
Government seizure/forfeiture and statutory-penalty actions.
Railroad-worker injury claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
This is the national view — what kinds of cases fill the federal civil docket overall. To see the case mix for one court near you, browse the federal civil caseload by district →
RECORDED — the case counts are cases commenced in FY2024, published in the AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3. DERIVED — the national share (count ÷ 268,242 total filings) and the government-vs-private split. The U.S.-vs-private split is AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3's own party classification — whether the United States is a party to the case (as plaintiff or defendant).
What this is — and is not
These are counts of cases filed (commenced) in fiscal year 2024, not outcomes. They do not measure who won, the merit of any claim, caseload per judge, or how your own case would fare — and they are not legal advice. For your matter, consult an attorney; for free civil legal aid, see the providers in your state. Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts — Judicial Business, Table C-3.