Are most federal and state trial court decisions published in national or state reporters?

Most federal and state trial court decisions are not published in national or state reporters. The majority of trial court decisions are considered to be of limited significance as precedents compared to appellate court decisions. As a result, these trial court rulings are typically not included in official reporters, which are primarily reserved for decisions that may develop or clarify the law.

Instead, the publication of trial court decisions often relies on selected cases of interest, which are sometimes made available through unofficial sources or online databases. Court rules and practices determine whether and how cases are published, with many jurisdictions opting to publish only those trial decisions with broader implications or those that address significant legal questions. This ensures that the legal resources available to practitioners primarily reflect authoritative and precedential case law.