How to Use the CourtListener MCP in Windsurf

Let Windsurf Cascade chain legal research tasks, pulling dockets and citations straight into your editor.

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Connect CourtListener MCP to Windsurf

Create your Vinkius account to connect CourtListener to Windsurf and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup CourtListener with Windsurf

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Map legal precedents with Windsurf

Cascade doesn't just pull one case. Tell it to trace a specific ruling's history, and it chains `search_opinions` to find the root case, then loops through `list_citations` to build a complete map of how later courts interpreted it. You get a formatted markdown document detailing the entire citation tree. This MCP Server lets the agent handle the pagination and cross-referencing automatically while you focus on the actual arguments.

Audit judge financial histories

Investigating potential conflicts of interest takes hours of manual digging. Pass a name to `get_judge`, and Cascade grabs their internal ID to feed directly into `list_financial_disclosures`. It parses the resulting disclosure records and highlights overlapping corporate interests. Your IDE becomes a specialized investigative workspace without opening a single browser tab.

Track active court dockets

Keeping tabs on ongoing litigation means constantly checking for updates. You can instruct Windsurf to use `search_dockets` to find a specific corporate lawsuit and extract the latest filings. If you need jurisdiction context, the agent runs `get_court` to pull local rules and procedural details. Everything formats neatly into your project's research folder.

Setup guide

Set up CourtListener MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
2

Add the CourtListener MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my CourtListener payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the CourtListener tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "courtlistener-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by CourtListener. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about CourtListener MCP in Windsurf

Open Settings, navigate to Cascade, and find the MCP Servers UI. You can also edit ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json directly. Add the Vinkius endpoint URL and click Refresh in the MCP panel.

Yes. Cascade chains tools together without prompting. It will find a case and immediately pull related citations if you ask for a legal summary.

No. The integration pulls public data directly from the Free Law Project. You just need your Vinkius endpoint token.

Context switching kills focus. Having Cascade pull dockets and format them directly into your markdown notes keeps you in the editor.

Vinkius routes your requests through a zero-trust V8 Isolate Sandbox. Your queries for specific dockets, opinions, and judge records execute ephemerally. Nothing gets stored or logged permanently.

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