Reading Case Law

2 Overview 1)What is Case Law? 2)What Does a Decision Contain? 3)What is Precedent and Court Hierarchy?

What is Case Law?

4 Case Law Decisions made by the courts It is law “judge-made law” It serves 2 functions: 1)Interpret primary law 2)Apply Law to particular facts (legal analysis)

5 Case Law Under Penal Law § 10.00, in order to satisfy the element of physical injury there must be an impairment of physical condition or substantial pain. What does it mean to have a substantial pain? You must find the answer in case law.

Structure of a Decision

Not All Decisions are Written the Same Way Decisions are written by judges. The judges are required to have certain things in them (such as whether the application is granted or denied) BUT they are not always required to have other things. For example many decisions from intermediate courts, do not always contain: Facts Reasoning 7

Decisions and Issues Decisions can have one issue or they can have many decisions. Your goal is to find the answer to your legal question. Not necessarily understand the entire case. 8

Decisions and Issues FOR EXAMPLE: People v Berkowitz, has two issues: 1)Collateral Estoppel; and 2)Speedy trial If your research is about speedy trial, do you need to understand the collateral estoppel issue? 9

10 The Dirty, Dark Little Secret Therefore, it may not be necessary to read the entire case to decide whether it is relevant. Use headnotes to guide you.

Parts of a Decision Caption Summary Headnotes Decision Introduction Issue Facts Reasoning Holding 11

Parts of a Decision: Caption Caption Name of case (names of parties and titles [e.g., plaintiff]) Cite (including court and year) 12

Parts of a Decision: Caption 93 A.D.3d 467, 939 N.Y.S.2d 460, 2012 N.Y. Slip Op Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York. The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Terrence McFARLANE, Defendant– Respondent. March 13,

Parts of a Decision: Summary 1)Background Appellate Court: what is being appealed from the court below Trial Court: what the case is all about 2)Holding What this court is holding in this decision 14

Parts of a Decision: Summary Background: People appealed from an order of the Supreme Court, Bronx County, Nicholas Iocovetta, J., which granted defendant's suppression motion. Holding: The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, held that consent to allow search of vehicle did not include consent to search locked glove compartment. Affirmed. 15

Parts of a Decision: Headnotes This gives the reader a summary of a rule used in the case. It allowed the reader to find it through numbers It is to be used with New York Digests to find more cases 16

Parts of a Decision: Headnotes West Headnotes KeyCite Citing References for this Headnote 349 Searches and Seizures 349V Waiver and Consent 349k186 k. Scope and duration of consent; withdrawal. Most Cited Cases Defendant's consent to allow search of his vehicle did not permit officer to, without asking, take the keys from the ignition and unlock the glove compartment; officer's request to “take a look” into the car or “check” it for contraband did not reasonably imply a request for permission to open the locked glove compartment. U.S.C.A. Const.Amend

Parts of a Decision Decision a)Introduction b)Issue c)Facts d)Reasoning e)Holding 18

19 Opinion Type Opinion of the Court (Majority) Concurrence Dissent Plurality

20 Opinion Type Opinion of the Court (Majority) This is the law. This is the court’s opinion The holding and rationale for the court

21 Opinion Type Concurring Opinion Agrees with ultimate outcome, but for different reasons Written by one or more judges Judge in the majority will be in concurrence

22 Opinion Type Dissenting Opinion Disagrees with ultimate outcome Written by one or more judges Dissenting judge is not part of majority

23 Opinion Type Plurality No majority Fractured opinion with multiple judges going different ways for different reasons Avoid them.

Parts of a Decision Decision a)Introduction b)Issue c)Facts d)Reasoning e)Holding 24

Parts of a Decision: Introduction What the case is about Sometimes a sentence Sometimes a paragraph Sometimes a few pages 25

Parts of a Decision: Issue What the court is about to determine What do the police need in order to enter a house? What is the definition of a clergy member? 26

Parts of a Decision: Facts Sometimes they are detailed; sometimes they are almost non-existent. There are two types of facts Facts that tell the story The police received a radio call to go to 123 East 45 th Street. Facts that are relevant to the issue The office saw a bulge in the right side of the defendant’s body and decided to frisk him. 27

Parts of a Decision: Reasoning What is the reason why the court is going to rule the way it is going to rule. You will find here the use of precedent, facts and anything else the judge (author) wants to throw in. Application of law to facts with decision on issue and explanation of reasons for decision The court will use relevant legal principles, analysis, and phrases 28

Parts of a Decision: Holding What the decision is: who wins Therefore, the lower court is affirmed Accordingly…. 29

Any Questions? 30