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Chapter 8 Traditional Research Tools American Law Reports DigestsShepard’s
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§8.1 Beginning Your Legal Research: Issue vs. Case Start with Issue: Start with Issue: Index to: Index to: Digests Digests Key numbers with synopsis of cases by topics/region Key numbers with synopsis of cases by topics/region Am.Jur.2d Am.Jur.2d Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes C.J.S. C.J.S. Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes A.L.R. A.L.R. Annotations with footnotes PLUS full court opinion Annotations with footnotes PLUS full court opinion
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Researching a Case …or start with the Case: …or start with the Case: Headnotes: Headnotes: Case index Case index Provides topic/key number Provides topic/key number Access your regional digest e.g., Pacific Digest Access your regional digest e.g., Pacific Digest Shepard’s: Shepard’s: Provides additional case authority Provides additional case authority Updates case Updates case Opinion: Opinion: Refers to additional case authority Refers to additional case authority
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§8.2 Expanding Your Research §8.2 Expanding Your Research Cases Cases Expand research through: Expand research through: Headnotes Headnotes Quick reference/index Quick reference/index Key Numbers Key Numbers Refer to West’s Digest for your region Refer to West’s Digest for your region The Opinion The Opinion Review statutes, cases, authorities cited within the opinion Review statutes, cases, authorities cited within the opinion
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§8.5 American Law Reports A.L.R. A.L.R. Publishes: Publishes: Cases in full Cases in full Selected cases Selected cases Annotations Annotations Discussion/Commentary Discussion/Commentary Series Series State & federal cases: State & federal cases: A.L.R. A.L.R. A.L.R.2d A.L.R.2d A.L.R.3d A.L.R.3d State cases only: State cases only: A.L.R. 4 th A.L.R. 4 th A.L.R. 5 th A.L.R. 5 th Federal cases only: Federal cases only: A.L.R. Federal A.L.R. Federal
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A.L.R. Index A.L.R. Index A.L.R. Index Index leading to main volumes Index leading to main volumes Update: Update: Pocket part supplements/updates index Pocket part supplements/updates index Pocket part = pocket in back on volume Pocket part = pocket in back on volume Arranged chronologically Arranged chronologically NOT topically NOT topically E.g., 14 A.L.R. 4 th 481 E.g., 14 A.L.R. 4 th 481 Volume 14 Volume 14 4 th edition 4 th edition Page 481 Page 481
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A.L.R. Main Volumes Index leads to Main Volume Main volumes contain: Main volumes contain: Total Client Service Library Total Client Service Library Reference to other research materials Reference to other research materials Table of Contents Table of Contents Points discussed Points discussed Annotation Index Annotation Index Table of Jurisdictions Represented Table of Jurisdictions Represented
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A.L.R. Supplements Supplements update main volumes Supplements update main volumes Supplements = Pocket Parts Supplements = Pocket Parts Pocket parts are in: Pocket parts are in: A.L.R. 3d A.L.R. 3d A.L.R. 4 th A.L.R. 4 th A.L.R. 5 th A.L.R. 5 th A.L.R. Fed. A.L.R. Fed. Look up same citation in main volume and pocket part Look up same citation in main volume and pocket part E.g. 83 A.L.R. 4 th 685 E.g. 83 A.L.R. 4 th 685 Additional Research Materials: Additional Research Materials: Research Reference Tools: Research Reference Tools: Electronic Search Query Electronic Search Query West Digest Key Number West Digest Key Number
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A.L.R. (first) and 2d Series Updates A.L.R. First Series Update: A.L.R. First Series Update: A.L.R. Blue Book of Supplemental Decisions A.L.R. Blue Book of Supplemental Decisions Blue book updated by: Blue book updated by: Pocket part Pocket part A.L.R. 2d Update: A.L.R. 2d Update: A.L.R. Later Case Service A.L.R. Later Case Service
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Additional A.L.R. Research Tools A.L.R. Digest A.L.R. Digest Index of A.L.R. cases by topic Index of A.L.R. cases by topic References cases analyzed by A.L.R. References cases analyzed by A.L.R. A.L.R. 5 th A.L.R. 5 th Revised: Revised: Case printing (cases at end of volume) Case printing (cases at end of volume) Total Client Service Library Total Client Service Library Table of Jurisdictions (more extensive) Table of Jurisdictions (more extensive) Electronic Search Query Electronic Search Query West Digest Key Numbers West Digest Key Numbers
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§8.2 Digests by West Publishing Company Digests act as an index to case law Digests act as an index to case law Arrange cases: Arrange cases: 1. Topically 1. Topically 2. Then lists cases by jurisdiction 2. Then lists cases by jurisdiction
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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.
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Digest Main Volumes Consumer Protection Key No. 10 Volume = Consumer Protection Volume = Consumer Protection Key Number = Section 10 Key Number = Section 10 Cases listed: (1) By Jurisdiction (2) By Year Pocket Parts Update Digests!!! Paragraph Summary of case
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Key Number System is universal within West Digests Key Number System is the same for all digests: Key Number System is the same for all digests: Attorney and Client Key 11(2.1): Attorney and Client Key 11(2.1): Leads to same topic in Leads to same topic in Atlantic Digest Atlantic Digest Pacific Digest Pacific Digest North Western Digest North Western Digest Etc. Etc.
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§8.2 Shepard’s Citators Validates authority Validates authority Is the case still good law? Is the case still good law? Is it overruled? Is it overruled? Provides parallel cites Provides parallel cites Official, unofficial reporters Official, unofficial reporters Case finder Case finder Lists other cases Lists other cases discussing cited cases
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Treatment Notations Treatment Notations
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The Citing Material Headnote References Headnote References Indicates which headnote is reviewed Indicates which headnote is reviewed Case Finder Case Finder Lists other cases that have addressed cited case Lists other cases that have addressed cited case
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Shepard’s Updates Updated with: Updated with: White Advance Sheet -- most recent White Advance Sheet -- most recent Blue Intermediate Supplement Blue Intermediate Supplement Red Cumulative Supplement Red Cumulative Supplement Yellow Cumulative Supplement Yellow Cumulative Supplement Hardbound Supplements Hardbound Supplements “Your Library Should Contain” “Your Library Should Contain” Lists supplements for volumes Lists supplements for volumes
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Online Validation Online validation is available at: Online validation is available at: Shepard’s Shepard’s Westlaw (InstaCite) Westlaw (InstaCite) Lexis (Uses Shepard’s) Lexis (Uses Shepard’s)
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Shepardizing Review 1. Shepardize the publication 1. Shepardize the publication 2. Look up volume, chapter, title 2. Look up volume, chapter, title 3. Look up page or section number 3. Look up page or section number 4. Use the Table of Authorities to define symbols 4. Use the Table of Authorities to define symbols 5. Check softbound supplements 5. Check softbound supplements 6. Check hardbound supplements 6. Check hardbound supplements
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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) US Supreme Court US Circuit Court Court of Appeals US District Court Trial Court
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§8.10 Federal Case Law Research Research in Unofficial Publications Research in Unofficial Publications S. Ct. & L. Ed. 2d S. Ct. & L. Ed. 2d Provides research tools Provides research tools Headnotes, key numbers, etc. Headnotes, key numbers, etc. Star Pagination (next slide) Star Pagination (next slide) Provides parallel citations to official pub. Provides parallel citations to official pub. Headnotes, Annotations, Briefs Headnotes, Annotations, Briefs Headnotes: Topical summaries of case Headnotes: Topical summaries of case Annotations: Commentary Annotations: Commentary Briefs: Attorney’s arguments Briefs: Attorney’s arguments
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Star Pagination Provides parallel pagination cite *115* [115] [343 U.S. 115] Indicates where page begins in unofficial publication Official Publication Unofficial Publication Star Pagination Provides parallel pagination cite *115* [115] [343 U.S. 115] Indicates where page begins in unofficial publication Official Publication Unofficial Publication
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Appellate Court Cases Federal Reporter Federal Reporter Reports appellate court cases Reports appellate court cases Note: Federal Appendix (unpublished cases) Note: Federal Appendix (unpublished cases) U.S. Court of Appeals citation format : U.S. Court of Appeals citation format : Title, ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year) Title, ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year) US Circuit Court Court of Appeals
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District Court Cases Federal Supplement Federal Supplement District Court Cases District Court Cases U.S. District Court U.S. District Court Title, ___ F. Supp. ___ (District Year) Title, ___ F. Supp. ___ (District Year) US District Court Trial Court
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§8.14 Federal Statutory Research Federal Statutes: Federal Statutes: U.S.C. (United States Code) U.S.C. (United States Code) U.S.C.A. (United States Code Annotated) U.S.C.A. (United States Code Annotated) U.S.C.S. (United States Code Service) U.S.C.S. (United States Code Service) Research within unofficial codes, but cite to the official Research within unofficial codes, but cite to the official
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Citation: 18 U.S.C. §4180 (1980) Citation: 18 U.S.C. §4180 (1980) Title: 18 Title: 18 Code:U.S.C. Code:U.S.C. Section:4180 Section:4180 Always cite to Official U.S.C. Always cite to Official U.S.C. U.S.C.A. and U.S.C.S. Format: U.S.C.A. and U.S.C.S. Format: Statute Historical & Revision Notes Notes of Decisions
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§8.16 State Statutory Research How are statutes arranged? How are statutes arranged? By topic By topic How are statutes cited? How are statutes cited? §13-22-221(1)(a), C.R.S. 1999 §13-22-221(1)(a), C.R.S. 1999 Varies by state Varies by state How do I research state statutes? How do I research state statutes? Begin in the INDEX Begin in the INDEX
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