Making sense of the Bulk data structure

[mlevy5722]

I am trying to find the correct info in the BULK data "repository" located at
https://com-courtlistener-storage.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/list.html?prefix=bulk-data/

Hopefully this is the only repository location and IF not please let me know of the others.

Before even thinking about obtaining a database with all the data pre-loaded, I am trying to make sense of how the data is structured and understand which table really include the most basic data about any case, which for me starts with :
Finding the table or tables where I could have access to:

• A detailed definition of the case
• A detailed definition of the final decision made on that case (if there is such available)

Question 1:
We feel that the detailed definition of the case could be in the tables saved in the files
opinions-YYYY-MM-DD.csv.bz2
and in the field called "plain_text"
is that correct?
(is that the sql table called "public.search_opinion")

Question 2:
Any other "sql table field" would also have a detailed description of the case?

Question 3:
Which "sql table field" would have a detailed description of the final decision made in the case?
Would the field "plain_text" from the opinions files "opinions-YYYY-MM-DD.csv.bz2"
also include such information?

Question 4:
For each opinion-id, we wish to find the corresponding:

• docket_id
• slug
• court_id
• plain_text

Is it possible to get all these from just 1 table?(is there such table?) or would we have to "join" fields from the following tables

• opinion-clusters-YYYY-MM-DD.csv (probably sql table called "public.search_opinioncluster" ?)
  and
• dockets-YYYY-MM-DD.csv (probably sql table called "public.search_docket" ?)

Question 5:
Is the field "id" in the sql table "public.search_opinion" connected to the field "id" in the table "public.search_opinioncluster"

Question 6:
Is the field "id" in the sql table "public.search_docket" connected to the field "id": in either table "public.search_opinioncluster" or the sql table "public.search_opinion" ?

Question 7:
Is the field "id" in the sql table "public.search_opinion" unique? OR can the same "id" be found on more than 1 record?
same quesiton for tables "public.search_docket" and "public.search_opinioncluster"

Question 8:
Are the bulk data files opinions-YYYY-MM-DD.csv.bz2 ONLY including incremental data? or do include every records every time in every files?
In other words in order, would the newest file have all potential records? OR you would need to look at all files to get all records?

[mlissner]

Lots of questions here. Let's see:

Q1, Q2, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7: Please see the API documentation, and data model diagram, which has information about how to understand the case law information.

Q3: Getting the outcome of each case is difficult. I don't think we have that.

Q8: This question is answered in the bulk data documentation.

I hope this helps!