What are Vermont Court Records?

Vermont, with around 643,816 people, is the 49th most populated state in the US, just behind Alaska. The state's judiciary comprises the Vermont Supreme Court, its appellate court, and the Vermont Superior Court, its trial court. The Superior Court is divided into 14 units, one for each of its counties. There are five divisions of the Superior Court: criminal, civil, family, probate, and environmental. Vermont's court system handles around 81,000 new cases every year.

The records of these cases are official documents, including hearings and trials, and they are usually public. However, the state does not permit online access to criminal, family, or probate case records. For any given case, Vermont court records usually start with a complaint in civil cases or an indictment in criminal cases, and usually contain the following information:

Types of Court Cases

Broadly speaking, court cases in Vermont are either classified as criminal or civil cases. While they both share a lot of similarities, the major difference between a criminal and civil case is that the former involves an individual being prosecuted by the government and might carry a jail term, while the latter involves just individuals often seeking compensation or a court order.

What Are the Different Courts in Vermont?

Vermont has a unified court system in which the Supreme Court sits above a single statewide Superior Court, organized into civil, family, criminal, probate, and environmental divisions, plus a statewide Judicial Bureau for civil violations, supported by a judiciary budget of roughly $74 million for fiscal year 2026.

How Many Federal Courts Are In Vermont?

Vermont has one federal court known as the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont. Its courthouses are located in Burlington and Rutland. This court has a limited jurisdiction which is dictated by the United States Constitution and federal legislation. It serves as the foundation for all cases originating under treaties, federal statutes, or the Constitution.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont has a Chief Judge, two United States District Judges, appointed by Presidents Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama, and a Magistrate Judge. These district court judges are in charge of running the court and overseeing its staff. As long as they exhibit "good behavior", they are eligible to serve another term, although Congress has the power to impeach and remove them.

Federal magistrate judges are tasked with certain district court duties. Judges in the district court appoint magistrates through a majority vote. These magistrate judges hold office for eight years if they work full-time or four years if they work part-time. However, magistrates may be reappointed once their term has expired.

The court handles trials within the federal court system – both civil and criminal. Decisions by the court are appealed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Vermont?

Vermont courts received about 75,570 new filings in fiscal year 2023, most of them ticketed civil violations heard by the Judicial Bureau. Clearance rates ran from 98% to 108% across divisions, for an overall rate of roughly 103%.

How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Vermont?

Court records in Vermont are maintained by the court where the case was filed. Case and docket information from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts can be found on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), an electronic public access service.

To make the most of your search, you need to be aware of some docket details and the court information for the case you are searching for. The case type, case number, ticket number for traffic violations, and the names of the parties (defendant, plaintiff, attorneys, or judge) can all be used as filters in the database.

To obtain copies of the case records, you must complete the Request for Access to Court Record form and mail it to the court where the case was filed. The completed form may be submitted by email, mail, or in-person delivery to the same court.

If you are submitting your request via email, make a follow-up call to the court a few days later to be sure they got it. Due to the sheer volume of emails they receive, some courts could take some time to respond to your message. Note that fees are attached to these requests. Copies can be purchased in person or by mail with a cheque or money order made payable to the Vermont Superior Court.

You can file an appeal with the court by completing and submitting a Notice of Appeal of Decision on Access to Court Records form if you have been refused access to a court record.

Number of Active Judges — State & Federal

Vermont's unified court system relies on Supreme Court justices, Superior Court judges, elected probate and assistant judges, alongside two active federal district judges.

What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Vermont?

While many of Vermont's court records are available to the public, Vermont law does not permit public access through the Internet to criminal, family, or probate case records. However, criminal justice agencies may be allowed Internet access to criminal case records for criminal justice purposes.

This, however, does not mean that Vermont Courts are prohibited from providing electronic access to court schedules of the Superior Court or opinions of the Criminal Division of the Superior Court, or decisions, recordings of oral arguments, briefs, and printed cases of the Supreme Court.

Average Case Processing Time & Clearance Rates

Processing time in Vermont depends on the type of case: ticketed violations are resolved in weeks, while contested civil, family, and felony cases can take a year or more. The figures below are statewide estimates.

Court Case Types