How do I find my CourtListener API Key?

Log in to your [**CourtListener account**](https://www.courtlistener.com/profile/api/), and you will find your API Key under the **API Tokens** section. Copy and paste it below.

Can the agent search for both opinions and dockets?

Yes. Use the `search_opinions` tool for legal judgments and `search_dockets` for case records. Your agent will return matching results from the Free Law Project database.

Is it possible to list judicial citations via the agent?

Yes. The `list_citations` tool allows your agent to retrieve all precedents and subsequent citations for any opinion by providing its Opinion ID, helping you map the legal landscape.

CourtListener MCP Server for Cursor 10 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: CourtListener
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 10 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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Classic Setup·json

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

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About CourtListener MCP Server

Empower your AI agent to orchestrate your entire legal research workflow with CourtListener, the world's leading free and open platform for legal data. By connecting CourtListener to your agent, you transform complex legal searches into a natural conversation. Your agent can instantly search for opinions, audit court dockets, and retrieve detailed judge information without you ever touching a technical portal. Whether you are conducting case law research or monitoring judicial activity, your agent acts as a real-time legal assistant, ensuring your research is always grounded in open and accessible data.

Cursor's Agent mode turns CourtListener into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from CourtListener and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 10 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Opinion Auditing — Search for legal opinions by keyword and retrieve detailed metadata, including court name and date filed.
Docket Oversight — Query court dockets to stay on top of ongoing litigation and case filings in real-time.
Judicial Intelligence — Retrieve detailed information about judges and their financial disclosures to maintain strict control over your research context.
Citation Discovery — List citations for specific opinions to understand the legal network and precedents.
Court Governance — List all available courts and their metadata to ensure your jurisdictional research is accurate.

The CourtListener MCP Server exposes 10 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect CourtListener to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the CourtListener MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using CourtListener

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using CourtListener, help me...". 10 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the CourtListener MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with CourtListener through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

CourtListener + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the CourtListener MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

CourtListener MCP Tools for Cursor (10)

These 10 tools become available when you connect CourtListener to Cursor via MCP:

get_court

Get details for a specific court

get_judge

Get details for a specific judge

get_opinion

Get details for a specific opinion

list_citations

List citations for an opinion

list_courts

List all courts

list_financial_disclosures

List judge financial disclosures

list_judges

List judges

list_opinions

List opinions

search_dockets

Search for court dockets

search_opinions

Search for legal opinions

Example Prompts for CourtListener in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with CourtListener immediately.

"Search for court opinions about 'copyright fair use'."

"Show me details for judge ID 1234."

"Check for dockets related to 'SpaceX' in 2024."

Troubleshooting CourtListener MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting CourtListener to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

CourtListener + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating CourtListener MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.