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

# Python quickstart

> Query DocketLayer from Python using the x402 client library.

## Install the x402 library

```bash theme={null}
pip install x402
```

## Configure your wallet

```python theme={null}
import os
from x402 import PaymentClient

client = PaymentClient(
    private_key=os.environ["SOLANA_PRIVATE_KEY"],
    network="solana-mainnet",
    currency="USDC"
)
```

`SOLANA_PRIVATE_KEY` is your wallet's private key, base64-encoded. See the [wallet setup guide](/guides/wallet-setup) if you do not have one yet.

## Check coverage (free)

```python theme={null}
import requests

status = requests.get("https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/status").json()
for court in status["courts"]:
    print(f"{court['court_code']:10} {court['coverage']:8} {court['name']}")
```

## First query — no last\_checked

```python theme={null}
result = client.get(
    "https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/case",
    params={
        "case_id": "1:24-cv-01234",
        "court_code": "nysd"
    }
).json()

case = result["case"]
print(f"{case['case_name']} — {case['status']}")
print(f"Judge: {case['assigned_judge']}")
print(f"Filed: {case['date_filed']}")

# Store for next query
last_checked = result["meta"]["queried_at"]
```

## Query with delta

```python theme={null}
result = client.get(
    "https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/case",
    params={
        "case_id": "1:24-cv-01234",
        "court_code": "nysd",
        "last_checked": last_checked
    }
).json()

last_checked = result["meta"]["queried_at"]

delta = result.get("delta")
if delta and delta["changed"]:
    print(f"{delta['change_count']} new filing(s):")
    for filing in delta["new_filings"]:
        print(f"  [{filing['filing_type']}] {filing['description']}")
else:
    print("No changes")
```

## Full context

```python theme={null}
result = client.get(
    "https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/case",
    params={
        "case_id": "1:24-cv-01234",
        "court_code": "nysd",
        "context": "full"
    }
).json()

case = result["case"]
print(f"{len(case['parties'])} parties")
print(f"{len(case['docket_history'])} docket entries")

if result["meta"]["truncated"]:
    td = result["meta"]["truncation_details"]
    print(f"Truncated: {td['entries_included']} of {td['total_entries']} entries returned")
```

## Batch query

```python theme={null}
result = client.post(
    "https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/cases/batch",
    json={
        "queries": [
            {"case_id": "1:24-cv-01234", "court_code": "nysd", "last_checked": last_checked},
            {"case_id": "1:22-bk-11068", "court_code": "deb", "last_checked": last_checked}
        ]
    }
).json()

print(f"Batch: {result['meta']['successful']} succeeded, {result['meta']['failed']} failed")
print(f"Total cost: ${result['meta']['total_cost_usd']:.2f}")

for r in result["results"]:
    if r["status"] == "success":
        changed = r["response"].get("delta", {}).get("changed", False)
        print(f"  {r['case_id']}: {'changed' if changed else 'no change'}")
    else:
        print(f"  {r['case_id']}: error — {r['error']['code']}")
```

## Error handling

```python theme={null}
response = client.get("https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/case", params={...})

if response.status_code == 200:
    data = response.json()

elif response.status_code == 402:
    # Payment failed — check wallet balance and x402 config
    print("Payment failed:", response.json()["error"]["message"])

elif response.status_code == 404:
    err = response.json()["error"]
    if err["code"] == "case_not_found":
        # Case enqueued — retry in a few minutes
        pass

elif response.status_code == 422:
    # Court not covered
    print("Court not covered — check /v2/status")

elif response.status_code == 429:
    import time
    retry_after = response.json()["error"]["details"]["retry_after"]
    time.sleep(retry_after)

elif response.status_code in (500, 503, 504):
    # Retry with backoff
    pass
```

## Sandbox mode

Test without spending USDC:

```python theme={null}
import requests

result = requests.get(
    "https://api.docketlayer.ai/v2/case",
    params={"test": "1", "case_id": "1:24-cv-01234", "court_code": "nysd"}
).json()

assert result["meta"]["sandbox"] is True
assert result["meta"]["query_cost_usd"] == 0
```