vocabulary: "1.0.0"

info:
  provider: US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  description: >-
    Vocabulary taxonomy for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
    covering cases, opinions, docket entries, PACER access, and legal subject
    matter in patent law, international trade, government contracts, and
    specialized federal jurisdiction.
  created: "2026-05-03"
  modified: "2026-05-03"

operational:
  apis:
    - name: PACER - Public Access to Court Electronic Records
      namespace: pacer
      baseUrl: https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
      status: active
    - name: Federal Circuit Opinions and Orders
      namespace: opinions-orders
      baseUrl: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/case-information/opinions-orders/
      status: active
    - name: Federal Circuit Case Records
      namespace: case-records
      baseUrl: https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/case-information/case-records/
      status: active

  resources:
    - name: cases
      description: Federal Circuit appeal cases
      apis: [pacer, case-records]
      actions: [search, get, list]
    - name: opinions
      description: Published Federal Circuit opinions, orders, and judgments
      apis: [opinions-orders]
      actions: [search, get, list, download]
    - name: docket-entries
      description: PACER docket entries for Federal Circuit cases
      apis: [pacer]
      actions: [list, get]

  actions:
    - name: search
      description: Search cases or opinions by case number, party name, or subject matter
      pattern: query
    - name: get
      description: Retrieve a single case or opinion by identifier
      pattern: read
    - name: list
      description: List cases or opinions with optional filters
      pattern: read
    - name: download
      description: Download opinion PDF documents
      pattern: read

  schemas:
    core:
      - name: FederalCircuitCase
        description: An appeal case before the Federal Circuit
        key_properties: [case_number, case_title, date_filed, case_type, status, parties]
      - name: FederalCircuitOpinion
        description: A published Federal Circuit opinion or order
        key_properties: [case_number, title, opinion_type, date_issued, outcome, is_precedential]
      - name: DocketEntry
        description: A PACER docket entry in a Federal Circuit case
        key_properties: [docket_number, entry_number, date_filed, document_type, description]

  parameters:
    identifiers:
      - name: case_number
        description: Federal Circuit case number (e.g., 2024-2296)
      - name: docket_number
        description: PACER docket identifier
    filters:
      - name: case_type
        description: Filter by legal subject matter (Patent, Government Contracts, etc.)
      - name: date_filed
        description: Filter cases by filing date range
      - name: opinion_type
        description: Filter opinions by type (Precedential, Non-Precedential, etc.)
      - name: is_precedential
        description: Filter for only precedential opinions

  enums:
    case_types:
      - Patent
      - International Trade
      - Government Contracts
      - Federal Employment
      - Veterans Benefits
      - Merit Systems Protection Board
      - Court of Federal Claims
      - Trade Secrets
      - Administrative Law
    opinion_types:
      - Precedential Opinion
      - Non-Precedential Opinion
      - Rule 36 Judgment
      - En Banc Opinion
      - Precedential Order
    outcomes:
      - Affirmed
      - Reversed
      - Vacated
      - Remanded
      - Dismissed
      - Vacated and Remanded
    case_status:
      - Open
      - Decided
      - Dismissed
      - Remanded
      - En Banc

capability:
  workflows: []
  personas:
    - id: patent-attorney
      name: Patent Attorney
      description: IP attorney monitoring Federal Circuit patent law precedent and pending appeals
      workflows: []
    - id: government-contracts-attorney
      name: Government Contracts Attorney
      description: Attorney tracking Federal Circuit decisions on government contracts and federal claims
      workflows: []
    - id: legal-researcher
      name: Legal Researcher
      description: Academic or law clerk conducting research on Federal Circuit jurisprudence
      workflows: []
    - id: litigation-monitor
      name: Litigation Monitor
      description: Business analyst monitoring Federal Circuit cases affecting specific technology or industry sectors
      workflows: []

  domains:
    - name: Patent Law
      description: Patent validity, infringement, claim construction, and eligibility
    - name: International Trade
      description: International Trade Commission decisions and trade regulation
    - name: Government Contracts
      description: Federal procurement law and Court of Federal Claims appeals
    - name: Federal Employment
      description: Merit Systems Protection Board and federal employee appeals
    - name: Veterans Benefits
      description: Veterans Appeals Board decisions on benefits

crossReference:
  - resource: cases
    operations:
      - search by party name
      - filter by case type
      - get by case number
    workflows: []
    personas: [patent-attorney, government-contracts-attorney, legal-researcher, litigation-monitor]
  - resource: opinions
    operations:
      - list by date range
      - filter by subject matter
      - filter precedential only
      - download PDF
    workflows: []
    personas: [patent-attorney, legal-researcher, litigation-monitor]
  - resource: docket-entries
    operations:
      - list by case number
      - filter by document type
    workflows: []
    personas: [patent-attorney, government-contracts-attorney, legal-researcher]