CourtAPI — Federal Court Data vs Ris
A side-by-side look at the CourtAPI — Federal Court Data and Ris MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose CourtAPI — Federal Court Data for legal work as a local process; choose Ris for legal as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose CourtAPI — Federal Court Data when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
COURTAPI_APP_ID, COURTAPI_APP_KEY, COURTAPI_BASE_URL. - You want tools like
find_cases, get_case, get_dockets.
Choose Ris when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
ris_bundesrecht, ris_landesrecht, ris_judikatur.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Legal | Legal |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | COURTAPI_APP_IDCOURTAPI_APP_KEYCOURTAPI_BASE_URL | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 19 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 10 | 13 |
| Full listing | View CourtAPI — Federal Court Data | View Ris |
Tools & capabilities
CourtAPI — Federal Court Data tools 10
find_casesDiscover federal court cases you don't have the court+number for yet. Pass a party/company name, a (partial) case number, or free-text keywords. Returns court_code + case_number needed by all other tools. No PACER cost. Note: keyword search (search-filings) charges 1 CourtAPI API call per 25 results returned. Examples: query='Sbarro', query='1:14-bk', query='retail chapter 11 2026'.get_caseGet all metadata for a known case: title, chapter, judge, key dates (filed/closed/discharged), assets, liabilities, and links to sub-resources (dockets, claims, parties, etc.) with their last-modified timestamps. Always call this first after finding a case. The response includes a 'menu' object where each entry has a 'modified' timestamp (null = never purchased) showing what sub-resources are available. Free unless include_live_pacer=true.get_docketsGet the docket sheet for a case — all filings in chronological order with dates, descriptions, and attached document info (is_cached, download_cost). The header includes judge, attorneys, trustees, and 341 meeting date. Supports keyword search and date/number range filtering. Free unless include_live_pacer=true.get_documentGet a PDF attached to a docket entry. Always checks the cache first. If cached (is_cached=true), returns download_url + preview_url + ocr_link at no cost. If not cached and purchase=true, buys from PACER and returns download_url + receipt. If not cached and purchase=false (default), returns cost info so you can decide. docket_seq comes from docket entries (e.g. '42.00000'). part defaults to 1 (main doc).get_claimsGet the bankruptcy claims register — all proofs of claim filed by creditors, with amounts (filed/allowed/paid), claim type (secured/unsecured), creditor names, and filing dates. Essential for Chapter 11 analysis and creditor research. Supports keyword search and date/number range filtering.get_partiesGet all parties in a case (debtors, creditors, plaintiffs, defendants, trustees) and optionally their attorneys with firm name, contact info, and bar number. Useful for conflicts checks, service lists, and identifying who is involved.get_creditorsGet the creditor list for a bankruptcy case — all creditors scheduled in Schedules D/E/F, whether or not they filed a proof of claim. Different from get_claims (which shows filed proofs of claim).ncl_searchSearch PACER's National Case Locator across all federal courts at once. More comprehensive than find_cases for party name searches — queries PACER directly. Costs PACER credits. Returns up to ~50 cases per page; pass search_id + page to paginate. Use for: finding a person's cases across all courts, SSN lookups, cross-court party searches.list_courtsList all PACER courts with their court codes. Call this when you need a court_code and don't know it. Returns ~200 courts; use type to filter. Common codes: nysbke, debke, ilnbke, cacdbe, txnbke.get_pacer_credentialsCheck or update PACER credentials stored in CourtAPI. PACER credentials are required before any include_live_pacer=true call. action='check' → show stored username (password not returned). action='set' → store pacer_user + pacer_pass. action='validate' → test credentials without storing. action='delete' → remove stored credentials.
Ris tools 13
ris_bundesrechtSearch Austrian federal laws (Bundesrecht). Use this tool to find Austrian federal legislation like ABGB, StGB, UGB, etc. Search strategy: "titel" and "paragraph" are the precise entry points — prefer them whenever the law or the section is known ("paragraph" is ignored for applikation="Erv", the English translations). "suchworte" runs a broad full-text search and the RIS API returns those hits ordered alphabetically by law title, not by relevance, so a common term buries the relevant law under thousands of results. Austrian law often splits one topic across several statutes, so look for a companion law: warranty, for example, is covered both by the VGG (consumer sales, B2C, in force since 2022) and by §§ 922 ff ABGB (general warranty law, including B2B). Example queries: - suchworte="Mietrecht" -> Find laws mentioning rent law - titel="ABGB", paragraph="1295" -> Find specific ABGB section - titel="B-VG", paragraph="7", abschnitt_typ="Artikel" -> Article-based laws - titel="ABGB", fassung_vom="2015-01-01" -> Consolidated version as of a date - applikation="Begut" -> Search draft legislationris_landesrechtSearch Austrian state/provincial laws (Landesrecht). Use this tool to find laws enacted by Austrian federal states (Bundeslaender). Search strategy: "titel" and "paragraph" (together with "bundesland") are the precise entry points — prefer them whenever the law or the section is known. "suchworte" runs a broad full-text search and the RIS API returns those hits ordered alphabetically by law title, not by relevance, so a common term buries the relevant law under thousands of results. Austrian law often splits one topic across several statutes and across the federal/state divide — when the topic turns out to be federal rather than state law (warranty, for example, sits in the VGG and in §§ 922 ff ABGB), search it with ris_bundesrecht instead. Example queries: - suchworte="Bauordnung", bundesland="Salzburg" -> Find state building law - titel="Bauordnung", bundesland="Wien", paragraph="1" -> Specific section - suchworte="Naturschutz", bundesland="Tirol", fassung_vom="2020-01-01" -> Version as of a dateris_judikaturSearch Austrian court decisions (Judikatur). Use this tool to find court decisions from Austrian courts. Choose the jurisdiction via "gerichtsbarkeit" (which court system to search). RIS distinguishes two document kinds, controlled by "dokumenttyp": - Rechtssatz: abstract legal principle / headnote (Leitsatz) distilled from a decision - Entscheidungstext: the full decision text including reasoning (Begruendung) The default "beide" searches both for the most complete results. Example queries: - gerichtsbarkeit="Vfgh", suchworte="Grundrecht" -> Constitutional Court decisions - suchworte="Schadenersatz", gericht="OGH" -> Only Supreme Court (OGH) decisions - norm="1295 ABGB" -> Which decisions cite §1295 ABGB? - gerichtsbarkeit="Justiz", fachgebiet="Arbeitsrecht", sortierung="datum_ab" -> Newest labor-law decisionsris_bundesgesetzblattSearch Austrian Federal Law Gazettes (Bundesgesetzblatt). Use this tool for historical research and tracking when laws were enacted. Contains official publications of federal laws, ordinances, and treaties. Example queries: - bgblnummer="120", jahrgang="2023", teil="1" -> Find specific gazette - suchworte="Klimaschutz" -> Full-text search in gazettesris_landesgesetzblattSearch Austrian State Law Gazettes (Landesgesetzblatt). Use this tool to find official publications of state/provincial laws. Covers all 9 federal states (Bundeslaender). Example queries: - lgblnummer="50", jahrgang="2023", bundesland="Wien" - suchworte="Bauordnung", bundesland="Salzburg"ris_regierungsvorlagenSearch Austrian Government Bills (Regierungsvorlagen). Use this tool for legislative history and parliamentary materials. Contains government proposals submitted to parliament. Example queries: - suchworte="Klimaschutz" -> Full-text search in bills - einbringende_stelle="BMF (Bundesministerium für Finanzen)" -> Bills from Finance Ministry - beschlussdatum_von="2024-01-01", beschlussdatum_bis="2024-12-31" -> Bills from 2024ris_dokumentRetrieve full text of a legal document. Use this after searching to load the complete text of a specific law or decision. Note: For long documents, content may be truncated. Use specific searches to narrow down.ris_dokument_abschnittReturn one section of a document already open in the RIS document viewer. Intended for the viewer widget, not for direct use — for the full text of a document use `ris_dokument`.ris_bezirkeSearch Austrian district administrative authority announcements (Kundmachungen der Bezirksverwaltungsbehörden). Use this tool to find announcements and ordinances from district administrative authorities. Note: Only certain states publish here: Niederösterreich, Oberösterreich, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Burgenland, Steiermark. Example queries: - bundesland="Niederösterreich", suchworte="Bauordnung" - bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde="Bezirkshauptmannschaft Innsbruck"ris_gemeindenSearch Austrian municipal law (Gemeinderecht). Use this tool to find municipal regulations and local ordinances. Applications: - Gr: Municipal law (Gemeinderecht) - default - GrA: Cross-border municipal law (Gemeinderecht Authentisch/Amtsblätter) Example queries: - gemeinde="Graz", suchworte="Parkgebuehren" - bundesland="Tirol", titel="Gebuehrenordnung" - applikation="Gr", index="Baurecht" - applikation="GrA", bezirk="Bregenz"ris_sonstigeSearch miscellaneous Austrian legal collections (Sonstige). Use this tool for specialized legal documents and historical materials. Available applications: - PruefGewO: Trade licensing examinations (Gewerbeordnung) - Avsv: Social insurance announcements (Sozialversicherung) - Spg: Health structure plans (Strukturpläne Gesundheit) - Avn: Official veterinary notices (Amtliche Veterinärnachrichten) - KmGer: Court announcements (Kundmachungen der Gerichte) - Upts: Party transparency decisions (Parteien-Transparenz-Senat) - Mrp: Council of Ministers protocols (Ministerratsprotokolle) - Erlaesse: Ministerial decrees (Erlässe der Bundesministerien) Example queries: - applikation="Mrp", suchworte="Budget", einbringer="BMF..." - applikation="Erlaesse", bundesministerium="Bundesministerium für Finanzen" - applikation="Upts", partei="SPÖ - Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs" - applikation="KmGer", kmger_typ="Geschaeftsordnung" - applikation="Avsv", dokumentart="Richtlinie"ris_historySearch document change history (Aenderungshistorie). Use this tool to track changes to legal documents over time. Shows when documents were created, modified, or deleted. Available applications (30 total): - Bundesrecht: Bundesnormen, BgblAuth, BgblAlt, BgblPdf, RegV - Landesrecht: Landesnormen, LgblAuth, Lgbl, LgblNO, Vbl, Gemeinderecht, GemeinderechtAuth - Judikatur: Justiz, Vfgh, Vwgh, Bvwg, Lvwg, Dsk, Gbk, Pvak, AsylGH - Sonstige: Bvb, Mrp, Erlaesse, PruefGewO, Avsv, Spg, KmGer, Dok, Normenliste Example queries: - applikation="Bundesnormen", aenderungen_von="2024-01-01", aenderungen_bis="2024-01-31" - applikation="Justiz", aenderungen_von="2024-06-01"- +1 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
CourtAPI — Federal Court Data
{
"mcpServers": {
"courtapi-federal-court-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@courtio/courtapi-mcp"
],
"env": {
"COURTAPI_APP_ID": "YOUR_COURTAPI_APP_ID_HERE",
"COURTAPI_APP_KEY": "YOUR_COURTAPI_APP_KEY_HERE",
"COURTAPI_BASE_URL": "YOUR_COURTAPI_BASE_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Ris
{
"mcpServers": {
"ris": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"ris-mcp-ts"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
CourtAPI — Federal Court Data is categorized under Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Ris belongs to Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick CourtAPI — Federal Court Data for legal work and Ris for legal.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
CourtAPI — Federal Court Data has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Ris has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add courtapi-federal-court-data and ris as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, CourtAPI — Federal Court Data has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Ris has 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 19 GitHub stars.