Anaya Nolan
Case citations are references to legal authorities, and they are essential for anyone using a law library to find the resources cited. Case citations follow a standard format and include the case name, report series, year and/or volume, and the page at which the report begins. This information can be used to find a case in printed volumes in a library or electronically. Electronic databases like Bloomberg Law, Google Scholar, Lexis Plus, and Nexis Uni allow users to retrieve cases using case citations. To find a case citation, one can refer to resources such as The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, ALWD Citation Manual, or Beiber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case citation structure | Party name v. Party name, volume number, reporter abbreviation, page number, year |
| Example | Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) |
| Databases | Bloomberg Law, Google Scholar, Lexis Plus, Nexis Uni, Westlaw, LexisNexis |
| Abbreviation guides | The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, ALWD Citation Manual, Beiber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations |
| Printed reporters | Available in law libraries, arranged in chronological order |
| Online reporters | Available through electronic databases, searchable by case citation |
| Parallel citations | Same case printed in two or more different reporters |
| Public domain citation | Type in the year, court designator, and opinion number |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Case citation structure
The precise format of a case citation depends on several factors, including the jurisdiction, court, and type of case. For instance, the standard case citation format in Australia is different from that of the United States.
In the US, a case citation typically includes the names of the lead parties (usually the plaintiff or appellant versus the defendant or appellee). For example, the citation "Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)" indicates that the case can be found in volume 347 of the United States Reports, starting on page 483, and that the decision was made in 1954. Each reporter has its own standardized abbreviation, with "U.S." being the abbreviation for United States Reports.
In Australia, the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) is a widely used resource for legal citation. The format provides a naming system that is independent of the publication of the case in a law report. For example, the Mabo case would be cited as "Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23".
It is worth noting that online resources, such as the Bluebook, provide basic legal citation guidance. However, they should be used as a supplement to, rather than a substitute for, comprehensive guides like the Bluebook.
Georgia's Open DCFS Cases: Understanding Your Legal Rights
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Finding cases online
A case citation generally includes the names of the parties involved, the volume number, the reporter, and the page number where the case begins. For example, in the citation "Hebb v. Severson, 201 P.2d 156 (Wash. 1948)", "Hebb" and "Severson" are the parties, the case can be found in volume 201 of the "Pacific Reporter, Second Series", starting on page 156, and the case was decided by the Washington State Supreme Court in 1948.
To find cases online, you can use databases such as Bloomberg Law, Google Scholar, Lexis Plus, and Nexis Uni. Simply enter the citation, including the volume, reporter abbreviation, and page number, into the search bar. Some databases may require a password or restrict access to certain individuals.
Additionally, some states are moving towards a universal or public domain citation format, also known as vendor-neutral. In this format, the courts assign a decision number to the case instead of using volume and page numbers. This system, known as neutral citations, includes the case name, the court hearing the case, the year of the judgment, and the case number.
It is worth noting that some states have specific authoritative series that should be cited in court or academic work. For example, in Scotland, the Session Cases and Justiciary Cases are regarded as authoritative. If a report is unavailable in these series, other sources may be cited, such as the Scots Law Times or Scottish Civil Law Reports.
Lemon Law: What Manufacturers Offer in Settlements
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Using print reporters
When performing legal research in print, you can use reporters or digests. Reporters are ideal if you know the case you're looking for and have a citation. Cases in reporters are published chronologically and are organised by jurisdiction and date. Official reporters are published or sanctioned by the court, while unofficial reporters are commercially published.
To find a case by citation, you need three basic components: the volume number of the reporter, the abbreviated name of the reporter, and the page number the case begins on in the reporter. For example, if you wanted to find the case 966 N.E.2d 915 in the print reporter, you would first find the North Eastern Reporter in the library print collection, then the second series within that, followed by volume 966, and finally the page number 915.
In addition to the print reporter citation format, some state courts are moving towards a public domain citation format for case law, where the courts assign a decision number to the case rather than using the volume and page numbers of print reporters. This format is also referred to as vendor-neutral or universal citation.
You can also use digests to find cases. Digests are like a subject index and outline of case law. They contain summaries of legal issues, which are assigned a topic and further divided into subtopics, along with West "Key Numbers". Digests are arranged alphabetically by topic and key number.
Case Law vs Statute Law: Understanding the Distinction
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Understanding statutory citations
Statutory citations are an important aspect of legal research, conveying a lot of information about the referred source in a concise manner. Understanding how to read and use these citations is a valuable skill for anyone working with case law.
Session laws, for example, are cited chronologically, often beginning with a popular name, followed by an official numbering system, such as "Public Law #" or "Chapter #". This is then followed by a volume number, the name of the session law set, and a page number. The year of enactment is usually added at the end, enclosed in parentheses.
Codes, on the other hand, are the topical arrangement of laws currently in force. They can be divided into numbered titles, chapters, or articles, or they can be named codes, such as a Criminal Code or Domestic Relations Code. Code citations typically start with the title, chapter, or article number, followed by the code abbreviation or named code abbreviation, and then the section number. The date of publication or the latest update date is often included to provide context for any changes in the language of the code over time.
When citing statutes, it is crucial to use the proper legal citation abbreviations, which can be found in resources like the Bluebook. For instance, if you are citing a federal statute, Bluebook Rule 12.2.1 instructs you to refer to the official code or its supplement. A citation of a statute in the United States Code typically includes four elements: the title, the section, the volume number, and the year (optional if citing the current code).
Additionally, some citations may require the name of the statute to be included, especially if it is commonly cited that way or if it aids in identification. For example, "National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 § 102, 42 U.S.C. § 4332".
Probate Case Law: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, Revised 8th Edition [Connected eBook with Study Center] (Aspen Coursebook Series)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81t2iaBh45L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Locating codes in the library
Once you've identified the reporter series, you need to locate it in the library. Law libraries typically provide location tables to assist with this. After finding the reporter series, you can identify the specific volume and page number to locate the full text of the opinion of the court.
Additionally, when dealing with statutory law, you need to identify the correct title and section number. The United States Code, for instance, is divided into 50 titles, and each title is arranged numerically. The title and code abbreviation come before the section symbol and number in a citation. Once you've identified the title and section number, you can locate the code in the law library.
It's worth noting that there are online databases, such as Westlaw, Lexis+, and Google Scholar, that allow you to retrieve cases using their citations. These electronic resources can be particularly useful when accessing case law from the library.
Citing Japanese Case Law: A Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A case citation is a reference to a legal authority. It is made up of the case name, the report series, the year and/or volume, and the page at which the report begins.
A case citation generally includes the case name, the volume number, the reporter abbreviation, and the page number. For example, in the citation "Hebb v. Severson, 201 P.2d 156 (Wash. 1948)", "Hebb and Severson" are the parties in the case, "201" is the volume number, "P.2d" is the reporter abbreviation, and "156" is the page number. The case was decided in 1948.
You can use databases such as Bloomberg Law, Google Scholar, Lexis Plus, and Nexis Uni to retrieve cases using a case citation. Simply enter the citation in the search bar.
A parallel citation is a reference to the same case printed in two or more different reporters. Historically, these were provided to help the reader find the citation based on available reporters.
A reporter is a series of books containing a collection of court decisions designated for publication by a court and arranged in chronological order. Official reporters are published or sanctioned by the court, while unofficial reporters are commercially published.
