# courtlistener_search_cases_semantic

A read tool on the Courtlistener MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `courtlistener_search_cases_semantic`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/defendthedisabled-courtlistener-mcp/courtlistener-search-cases-semantic

## Facts

- Tool: `courtlistener_search_cases_semantic`
- 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_search_cases_semantic",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why courtlistener_search_cases_semantic is rated Low

The tool performs semantic search on cases within CourtListener's legal database. Search operations retrieve and query data without side effects. Although the description is empty, the name pattern and context with sibling search/get tools indicate this is a read operation that retrieves case information. No modification, deletion, or execution of arbitrary commands is implied.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name contains 'search_cases_semantic' and is part of a legal database access server alongside other read-only tools like courtlistener_get_case, courtlistener_get_opinion, and courtlistener_search_cases_keyword."

## Use case

AI agents call courtlistener_search_cases_semantic 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_search_cases_semantic": {}
  }
}
```

## 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_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_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