If you are looking for Supreme Court Briefs, below are some resources that should be useful. Keep in mind that the online resources may have a lag time between the time of filing and when they are available electronically. Also, some of the services such as Lexis and Westlaw only post briefs for cases that have been granted certiorari.

• Findlaw at http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/briefs/ is a free service that posts briefs alphabetically by party name covering 1999-present. Documents are in pdf or text format. In addition to petitioner, respondent, reply and amicus briefs, there are also links to the decisions and other resources such as oral argument transcripts, docket sheets and applicable U. S. Code sections.

• Lexis/Nexis at http://www.lexis.com provides access through GENFED;BRIEFS (library;file name). This file includes briefs from the January 1979-present. There is a lag time and it only includes briefs for cases that have been granted certiorari.

• Westlaw http://www.westlaw.com provides access through the SCT-BRIEF database. Merits briefs begin from the 1990-91 Term-present and the Amicus briefs begin from the 1995-96 Term-present. Westlaw also has a lag time and includes only briefs for cases that have been granted certiorari.

• Office of the Solicitor General provides access to all briefs filed by the Solicitor General, from 7/1998-present, except responses to IFP cases. These briefs are searchable by keyword, type or subject. There are also selected briefs available for 1982-1996 (1982-85 Merits briefs; 1986-90 & 1993-96 Merits briefs and responses) that are searchable by keyword.

If you are not able to find a Supreme Court Brief through the resources mentioned above, there are three other fee-based options:

• Document retrieval services -- There are several companies in the Washington, D.C., area that will photocopy briefs at the Supreme Court of the United States and deliver or send them to you. Fees vary depending on the company and the requested service.

• An internet service -- BriefServe at http://www.briefserve.com that has 1984 Term-present Supreme Court Briefs. Briefs are sent in pdf format and cost $25.00 per brief.

• Self-service at the Supreme Court -- Individuals can make copies of available briefs at the Supreme Court Clerk's Office. Office hours are Monday-Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is 10 cents per page.