# courtlistener_get_citing_cases

A read tool on the Courtlistener MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `courtlistener_get_citing_cases`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-citing-cases

## Facts

- Tool: `courtlistener_get_citing_cases`
- Server: Courtlistener (`defendthedisabled/courtlistener-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/DefendTheDisabled/courtlistener-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade A, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "courtlistener_get_citing_cases",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why courtlistener_get_citing_cases is rated Low

The tool appears to fetch or retrieve citing cases from CourtListener's database. The pattern of similar tools on the server (all get/list/search operations) and the absence of any create, modify, delete, or execute language strongly suggests this is a read-only query tool.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'courtlistener_get_citing_cases' indicates it retrieves data about cases that cite a given case."

## Use case

AI agents call courtlistener_get_citing_cases to retrieve information from Courtlistener without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Courtlistener:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "courtlistener_get_citing_cases": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Courtlistener (11)

- `courtlistener_get_case` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-case.md
- `courtlistener_get_court_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-court-info.md
- `courtlistener_get_docket` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-docket.md
- `courtlistener_get_opinion` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-opinion.md
- `courtlistener_list_courts` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-list-courts.md
- `courtlistener_search_cases_hybrid` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-search-cases-hybrid.md
- `courtlistener_search_cases_keyword` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-search-cases-keyword.md
- `courtlistener_search_cases_semantic` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-search-cases-semantic.md
- `courtlistener_search_judges` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-search-judges.md
- `courtlistener_search_oral_arguments` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-search-oral-arguments.md
- `courtlistener_verify_citation` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-verify-citation.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp