After reading this chapter, you will be able to:  Find U.S. Supreme Court cases  Find other federal court decisions  Locate state court opinions  Know where to find the most recent court decisions  Understand the topical system for locating cases

 A slip opinion is the first printed version of a judge’s decision.  Slip opinions are obtained from the courts.

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 United States Reports is the official, government printed reporter for U.S. Supreme Court cases.

 Be careful of the source of the Internet opinion. Check court rules for citing and relying on opinions available on the Internet.  Both the Bluebook and ALWD warn researchers not to cite to an Internet case if it is available in a reporter, an online database, or printed source, such as a looseleaf.

 Supreme Court Reporter or U.S. Supreme Court Reports, Lawyer’s Edition are the commercial reporters. These reporters are published sooner than the official, government-printed version They contain a variety of publisher’s headnotes and case abstracts that will assist you in your research

Atlantic Reporter A. or A.2d Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia North Eastern Reporter N.E., N.E.2d Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio North Western Reporter N.W., N.W.2d Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin Slide 1 of 3

West’s Pacific Reporter P. or P.2d Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming West’s South Eastern Reporter S.E. or S.E.2d Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia West’s South Western Reporter S.W. or S.W.2d Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Indian Territories Slide 2 of 3

West’s Southern Reporter So. or So. 2d Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi Slide 3 of 3

 In theory, the text of a case published in the state reporter should be identical to that in the regional reporter.  If the two differ, then the language of the official version governs.