Interactive Timeline & Motion Tags

Visualize case events chronologically and filter by specific motion tags to understand procedural history quickly.

Summary

Learn how to use the Interactive Timeline to visualize the chronological history of a case and filter complex dockets by specific event types (Motion Tags).

Why This is Important

Complex litigation can span years and contain hundreds of docket entries. Scrolling through a text-based list to find a specific "Motion to Dismiss" or "Summary Judgment" is time-consuming. The Interactive Timeline transforms this list into a visual map, allowing you to see the cadence of the case and instantly isolate the documents that matter most.

Accessing the Timeline

  1. Open any Docket Sheet (case page).

  2. Look for the Show Interactive Timeline button located near the top of the page, just above the list of docket entries.

  3. Click it to expand the visual timeline view.

Toggle the timeline view to see a visual representation of the case history.

Navigating the Timeline

  • Chronological View: The timeline displays events from left to right.

  • Zoom & Scroll: You can scroll horizontally to move through time or zoom in to focus on a specific month or year.

  • Lanes: Events are often grouped into "lanes" based on their type (e.g., Motions, Orders, Pleadings) to help you distinguish between actions taken by the parties versus rulings by the judge.

Using Motion Tags

Docket Alarm created a parser to automatically "tag" docket entries with over 220+ specific types (e.g., Motion to Dismiss, Complaint, Order, Answer).

How to Filter by Tags:

  1. In the timeline view, you will see a filter menu or legend.

  2. Hover over a specific tag (e.g., "Motion to Dismiss") to highlight only those events on the timeline.

  3. Click a tag to filter the docket sheet below, hiding all other entries. This allows you to see, for example, only the motions filed in the case, ignoring all administrative entries.

Springboarding to Analytics

The timeline is not just for navigation; it is a gateway to research.

  • Hover over a Motion Tag in the timeline.

  • A popup will appear showing Outcome Analytics for that specific motion type.

  • Click Search within that popup to find similar motions filed in other cases. This is a powerful way to find precedent or see how other judges have ruled on identical motions.

Pro Tip: You can filter the timeline by "Importance." Select High Importance to see only dispositive motions and major orders, giving you a "CliffsNotes" version of the case history in seconds.

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Need more help?

If you do not see the "Show Interactive Timeline" button, the case may be from a jurisdiction that does not yet support advanced tagging. Contact Support for coverage details.

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