A docket [sheet] is a "minute, abstract, or brief entry; or the book containing such entries. A formal record, entered in brief, of the proceedings in a court of justice. A book containing an entry in brief of all the important acts done in court in the conduct of each case, from it's inception to it's conclusion. .... " [Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Edition, 1990] .

Generally speaking, whenever a lawsuit is filed, the Clerk of the Court files each pleading or other court papers submitted to the court and simutaneously creates a log of each item filed. Today, these logs are kept electronically. Once an item on the docket sheet is identified, a paper copy of the actual item can be obtained for a nominal cost through the clerk's office.

You can obtain current copies of the docket sheet, or any of the specific documents identified on the docket sheet, by taking one of the following actions:

• Write or call the Clerk's Office:
  
  U. S. District Clerk's Office
  14A20 Federal Bldg.
  1100 Commerce
  Dallas, TX 75242
  
  
• Acessing the docket sheet via computer if you have access to the PACER system, which system is used by most federal courts.
  
  
• Visiting the web site for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas