# courtlistener_list_courts

A read tool on the Courtlistener MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `courtlistener_list_courts`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-list-courts

## Facts

- Tool: `courtlistener_list_courts`
- 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_list_courts",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why courtlistener_list_courts is rated Low

The tool name 'list_courts' clearly performs a retrieval operation that returns a list of court information without modifying data. This fits the Read category: retrieves or queries data with no side effects. Confidence is slightly reduced (0.85 rather than 0.95+) because the description is empty, preventing direct confirmation, but the name and surrounding context strongly indicate a non-destructive query operation.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'courtlistener_list_courts' indicates a listing/enumeration operation. The broader server context shows it is part of CourtListener's legal database tools that provide 'semantic search, hybrid search, citation verification, and research tools' — all…"

## Use case

AI agents call courtlistener_list_courts 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_list_courts": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Courtlistener (11)

- `courtlistener_get_case` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-case.md
- `courtlistener_get_citing_cases` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-get-citing-cases.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_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