National federal civil docket · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Business C-3
Civil rights
Discrimination, constitutional-rights, voting, disability (ADA), and § 1983 claims against officials or institutions.
46,187 such civil cases were commenced in the U.S. district courts in fiscal year 2024 — 17% of the entire federal civil docket, the #2 largest of 15 case categories.
Who is a party?
How these cases divide between matters where the U.S. government is a party and matters between private parties. 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).
Where these cases concentrate
The U.S. district courts with the most civil rights filings. Some categories cluster heavily (intellectual property, for instance) while others track population.
Other case types on the docket
RECORDED — the case counts are cases commenced in FY2024, published in the AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3. DERIVED — the national share, the government-vs-private split, and the per-district ranking.
What this is — and is not
These are counts of civil rights cases filed in FY2024, not outcomes — they do not measure who won, the merit of any claim, 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.