Why are there multiple dockets in RECAP for a single case in PACER?

A longstanding issue of the RECAP Suite is that our database does not properly mirror PACER cases where there are multiple criminal defendants.

In PACER, these cases have:

• A main docket that is shared by all defendants
• A sub-docket per defendant that has defendant-specific documents

In RECAP, we do not have a concept of sub-dockets, so instead we have multiple dockets for the one case, creating duplicate dockets that appear to be nearly identical. Hence, internally, we've taken to calling this the doppeldocket problem.

This misalignment between our system and PACER has a number of downstream effects on the RECAP, including:

• Multiple dockets are shown for some cases when searching for it on CourtListener
• Document and docket uploads seem to go work properly but then don't seem to appear in CourtListener

We are slowly working on fixing this issue #2185, but progress is slow due to the complexity of the bug.

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