> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.courtrules.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get rulebook

> Returns one official rulebook with its rule count and when it was last checked

Returns one rulebook: its name and abbreviations, where it applies, who issues it, its official page, how many rules are in force, and when we last read the official source. The fields are the same as one item of [`/rulebooks`](/api-reference/rulebooks).

Call this when you already know the rulebook's `id` and want its current `rule_count` or `last_checked_at`. To read its rules, use [`/rulebooks/{rulebook_id}/rules`](/api-reference/rulebook-rules).

**rulebook\_id** `string` *required*

Rulebook identifier from [`/rulebooks`](/api-reference/rulebooks), such as
`california-rules-of-court`. Lowercase words joined by hyphens.

```bash cURL theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
curl 'https://api.courtrules.app/api/v1/rulebooks/california-rules-of-court' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

```python Python theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
import requests

resp = requests.get(
    "https://api.courtrules.app/api/v1/rulebooks/california-rules-of-court",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
rulebook = resp.json()
```

```typescript Node.js theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
const resp = await fetch("https://api.courtrules.app/api/v1/rulebooks/california-rules-of-court", {
  headers: { Authorization: "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" },
});
const rulebook = await resp.json();
```

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
{
  "id": "california-rules-of-court",
  "name": "California Rules of Court",
  "aliases": ["CRC", "Cal. Rules of Court", "Cal. Rules Ct."],
  "jurisdiction": "CA",
  "scope": "statewide",
  "kind": "court_rules",
  "governed_court_ids": [],
  "issuer": "Judicial Council of California",
  "official_url": "https://courts.ca.gov/forms-rules/rules-court",
  "rule_count": 1488,
  "last_checked_at": "2026-10-19T08:20:21.677476+00:00",
  "site_url": "https://www.courtrules.app/rules/california-rules-of-court"
}
```

## Response fields

**id** `string`

Rulebook identifier. It does not change: if the official name changes, the name changes and the id
stays.

**name** `string`

Official name

**aliases** `string[]`

Other names and abbreviations readers use, such as `CRC`

**jurisdiction** `string`

Where the rulebook applies: a two-letter state code, `DC`, or `US` for national federal rules

**scope** `string`

`national`, `statewide` or `court`. A statewide rulebook applies across its state.

**kind** `string`

`court_rules`, `statute` or `administrative_code`

**governed\_court\_ids** `string[]`

Courts a court rulebook names. Empty for statewide and national rulebooks, which apply across
their jurisdiction without naming courts; each rule says which courts it covers.

**issuer** `string`

The body that adopts and publishes the rules

**official\_url** `string`

The issuer's official page for the rulebook

**rule\_count** `integer`

Rules in force that the official source still lists. Repealed, reserved and removed rules are not
counted.

**last\_checked\_at** `string | null`

When we last read the official source. `null` before the first read.

**site\_url** `string`

The rulebook's page on courtrules.app

## Errors

### 400: Invalid rulebook identifier

Returned when `rulebook_id` cannot be an identifier: capital letters, underscores, or more than 80 characters.

```json 400 theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
{
  "error": "Invalid request",
  "details": [
    {
      "path": "rulebook_id",
      "message": "Use lowercase words joined by hyphens, such as california-rules-of-court"
    }
  ],
  "docs_url": "https://docs.courtrules.app/api-reference/get-rulebook"
}
```

### 404: Rulebook not found

Returned when no rulebook has this identifier. Rulebooks that are not in [`/rulebooks`](/api-reference/rulebooks) read as not found.

```json 404 theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
{
  "error": "Rulebook 'no-such-rulebook' not found.",
  "suggestion": "Use GET /api/v1/rulebooks to list the rulebooks you can read.",
  "docs_url": "https://docs.courtrules.app/api-reference/rulebooks"
}
```

One rulebook counts as one row against your [daily row limit](/api-reference/rate-limits.md).


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