1 / 32

Chapter 8 Traditional Research Tools

Chapter 8 Traditional Research Tools. American Law Reports Digests Shepard’s. §8.1 Beginning Your Legal Research: Issue vs. Case. Start with Issue: Index to: Digests Key numbers with synopsis of cases by topics/region Am.Jur.2d Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes C.J.S.

kendra
Download Presentation

Chapter 8 Traditional Research Tools

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 8Traditional Research Tools American Law Reports Digests Shepard’s

  2. §8.1 Beginning Your Legal Research:Issue vs. Case • Start with Issue: • Index to: • Digests • Key numbers with synopsis of cases by topics/region • Am.Jur.2d • Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes • C.J.S. • Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes • A.L.R. • Annotations with footnotes PLUS full court opinion

  3. Researching a Case • …or start with the Case: • Headnotes: • Case index • Provides topic/key number • Access your regional digest e.g., Pacific Digest • Shepard’s: • Provides additional case authority • Updates case • Opinion: • Refers to additional case authority

  4. §8.2 Expanding Your Research • Cases • Expand research through: • Headnotes • Quick reference/index • Key Numbers • Refer to West’s Digest for your region • The Opinion • Review statutes, cases, authorities cited within the opinion

  5. §8.5 American Law Reports • A.L.R. • Publishes: • Cases in full • Selected cases • Annotations • Discussion/Commentary • Series • State & federal cases: • A.L.R. • A.L.R.2d • A.L.R.3d • State cases only: • A.L.R. 4th • A.L.R. 5th • Federal cases only: • A.L.R. Federal

  6. A.L.R. Index • A.L.R. Index • Index leading to main volumes • Update: • Pocket part supplements/updates index • Pocket part = pocket in back on volume • Arranged chronologically • NOT topically • E.g., 14 A.L.R. 4th 481 • Volume 14 • 4th edition • Page 481

  7. A.L.R. Main Volumes Index leads to Main Volume • Main volumes contain: • Total Client Service Library • Reference to other research materials • Table of Contents • Points discussed • Annotation Index • Table of Jurisdictions Represented

  8. A.L.R. Supplements • Supplements update main volumes • Supplements = Pocket Parts • Pocket parts are in: • A.L.R. 3d • A.L.R. 4th • A.L.R. 5th • A.L.R. Fed. • Look up same citation in main volume and pocket part • E.g. 83 A.L.R. 4th 685 • Additional Research Materials: • Research Reference Tools: • Electronic Search Query • West Digest Key Number

  9. A.L.R. (first) and 2d SeriesUpdates • A.L.R. First Series Update: • A.L.R. Blue Book of Supplemental Decisions • Blue book updated by: • Pocket part • A.L.R. 2d Update: • A.L.R. Later Case Service

  10. Additional A.L.R. Research Tools • A.L.R. Digest • Index of A.L.R. cases by topic • References cases analyzed by A.L.R. • A.L.R. 5th • Revised: • Case printing (cases at end of volume) • Total Client Service Library • Table of Jurisdictions (more extensive) • Electronic Search Query • West Digest Key Numbers

  11. §8.2 Digestsby West Publishing Company • Digests act as an index to case law • Arrange cases: • 1. Topically • 2. Then lists cases by jurisdiction

  12. Digest Index • Descriptive Word Index • Multi-volume index • Utilizes Key Number System • Key Number addresses the same topics in ALL digests • E.g., Contracts 49(3) deals with lack of consideration in Pacific Digest, Atlantic Digest, etc.

  13. Digest Main Volumes Consumer Protection Key No. 10 • Volume = Consumer Protection • Key Number = Section 10 Cases listed: (1) By Jurisdiction (2) By Year Pocket Parts Update Digests!!! Paragraph Summary of case

  14. Key Number System is universal within West Digests • Key Number System is the same for all digests: • Attorney and Client Key 11(2.1): • Leads to same topic in • Atlantic Digest • Pacific Digest • North Western Digest • Etc.

  15. §8.2 Shepard’s Citators • Validates authority • Is the case still good law? • Is it overruled? • Provides parallel cites • Official, unofficial reporters • Case finder • Lists other cases discussing cited cases

  16. Treatment Notations

  17. .

  18. The Citing Material • Headnote References • Indicates which headnote is reviewed • Case Finder • Lists other cases that have addressed cited case

  19. Shepard’s Updates • Updated with: • White Advance Sheet -- most recent • Blue Intermediate Supplement • Red Cumulative Supplement • Yellow Cumulative Supplement • Hardbound Supplements • “Your Library Should Contain” • Lists supplements for volumes

  20. Online Validation • Online validation is available at: • Shepard’s • Westlaw (InstaCite) • Lexis (Uses Shepard’s)

  21. Shepardizing Review • 1. Shepardize the publication • 2. Look up volume, chapter, title • 3. Look up page or section number • 4. Use the Table of Authorities to define symbols • 5. Check softbound supplements • 6. Check hardbound supplements

  22. Review of Basic Federal Citation • U.S. Supreme Court Title, ___ U.S. ___, ___ S.Ct. ___, ___ L.Ed. ___ (Year) • U.S. Court of Appeals Title, ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year) • U.S. District Court Title, ___ F. Supp. ___ (District Year)

  23. §8.10 Federal Case Law Research • Research in Unofficial Publications • S. Ct. & L. Ed. 2d • Provides research tools • Headnotes, key numbers, etc. • Star Pagination (next slide) • Provides parallel citations to official pub. • Headnotes, Annotations, Briefs • Headnotes: Topical summaries of case • Annotations: Commentary • Briefs: Attorney’s arguments

  24. Star PaginationProvides parallel pagination cite*115*[115][343 U.S. 115]Indicates where page begins in unofficial publicationOfficial Publication Unofficial Publication

  25. Appellate Court Cases • Federal Reporter • Reports appellate court cases • Note: Federal Appendix (unpublished cases) • U.S. Court of Appeals citation format: Title, ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year) US Circuit Court Court of Appeals

  26. District Court Cases • Federal Supplement • District Court Cases • U.S. District Court Title, ___ F. Supp. ___ (District Year) US District Court Trial Court

  27. §8.14 Federal Statutory Research • Federal Statutes: • U.S.C. (United States Code) • U.S.C.A. (United States Code Annotated) • U.S.C.S. (United States Code Service) • Research within unofficial codes, but cite to the official

  28. Citation: 18 U.S.C. §4180 (1980) • Title: 18 • Code: U.S.C. • Section: 4180 • Always cite to Official U.S.C. • U.S.C.A. and U.S.C.S. Format: Statute Historical & Revision Notes Notes of Decisions

  29. §8.16 State Statutory Research • How are statutes arranged? • By topic • How are statutes cited? • §13-22-221(1)(a), C.R.S. 1999 • Varies by state • How do I research state statutes? • Begin in the INDEX

More Related