diff --git a/juriscraper/pacer/appellate_docket.py b/juriscraper/pacer/appellate_docket.py
index 2e1aac83a..614a95d3f 100644
--- a/juriscraper/pacer/appellate_docket.py
+++ b/juriscraper/pacer/appellate_docket.py
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ class AppellateDocketReport(BaseDocketReport, BaseReport):
     docket_number_dist_regex = re.compile(
         r"((\d{1,2}:)?\d\d-[a-zA-Z]{1,4}-\d{1,10})"
     )
-    docket_number_lookup_regex = "Docket #|Case Number"
 
     CACHE_ATTRS = ["metadata", "docket_entries"]
 
@@ -358,9 +357,7 @@ def metadata(self):
 
         data = {
             "court_id": self.court_id,
-            "docket_number": self._get_tail_by_regex(
-                self.docket_number_lookup_regex
-            ),
+            "docket_number": self._parse_docket_number(),
             "case_name": self._get_case_name(),
             "panel": self._get_panel(),
             "nature_of_suit": self._get_tail_by_regex("Nature of Suit"),
@@ -480,6 +477,32 @@ def _parse_attorney(self, tree):
         attorney["contact"] = "\n".join(contacts)
         return attorney
 
+    def _parse_docket_number(self) -> str:
+        """Parse the docket_number from the appellate report.
+        :return: The docket_number.
+        """
+
+        docket_number_regex = "Docket #|Case Number"
+        # Try to parse docket_number first using _get_tail_by_regex.
+        if docket_number := self._get_tail_by_regex(docket_number_regex):
+            return docket_number
+
+        # If that doesn't work, fall back to parsing the docket_number wrapped
+        # in a "tel:" href.
+        nodes = self.tree.re_xpath(
+            f'//*[re:match(text(), "{docket_number_regex}")]'
+        )
+        if not nodes:
+            return ""
+
+        a_node = nodes[0].xpath(
+            "following-sibling::a[starts-with(@href, 'tel:')][1]"
+        )
+        if a_node and a_node[0].text:
+            return clean_string(a_node[0].text)
+
+        return ""
+
     @property
     def parties(self):
         """Return the party table as HTML.
@@ -920,16 +943,7 @@ def _get_tail_by_regex(self, regex, cast_to_date=False, node=None):
         node = node if node is not None else self.tree
         nodes = node.re_xpath(f'//*[re:match(text(), "{regex}")]')
         try:
-            tail_text = nodes[0].tail
-            tail_text = tail_text.strip() if tail_text is not None else ""
-            # If there's no tail text and we're parsing the docket_number,
-            # fall back to parsing the docket_number wrapped in a "tel:" href.
-            if not tail_text and regex == self.docket_number_lookup_regex:
-                a_nodes = nodes[0].xpath(
-                    "following-sibling::a[starts-with(@href, 'tel:')][1]"
-                )
-                tail_text = a_nodes[0].text or "" if a_nodes else ""
-            tail = clean_string(tail_text)
+            tail = clean_string(nodes[0].tail.strip())
         except (IndexError, AttributeError):
             if cast_to_date:
                 return None
diff --git a/tests/examples/pacer/dockets/appellate/ca5_212643.html b/tests/examples/pacer/dockets/appellate/ca5_212643.html
index 182cfd546..3c104c836 100644
--- a/tests/examples/pacer/dockets/appellate/ca5_212643.html
+++ b/tests/examples/pacer/dockets/appellate/ca5_212643.html
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 		<td valign="top" align="right" rowspan="2">
 		<b>Docketed:</b> 03/07/2023</td></tr>
 <tr><td>USA v. Broussard</td></tr>
-	<tr><td><b>Appeal From:</b>  
+	<tr><td><b>Appeal From:</b>
 	Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette</td>
 </tr>
 	<tr><td><b>Fee Status:</b>  Fee Paid</td>
@@ -470,4 +470,4 @@ <h1 style="page-break-before: always;"> </h1>
 </div>
 
 
-</body>
\ No newline at end of file
+</body>