LEGAL LEGAL RESEARCH RESEARCH An Introduction An Introduction
LEGALLEGAL
RESEARCHRESEARCH
An IntroductionAn Introduction
The Fabric of LawConstitution, Common Law, Statutory, Administrative, Executive, Treaties, etc.
Federal, State, Local
The law leaves a “paper trail”
•Need to be able to figure out what has been decided/passed before (precedent)
•Need to know how current decisions/laws fit into that history
•Need to be able to find out if a 1945 court decision is still valid
•Increasingly, the “paper trail” is digital . . . .but the paper organization is still important
Reporters and Digests
Reporters = Chronological
Digests = By Topic
Reporters = usually one court (system), agency, or body
Digests = often combining of multiple courts, statutes, etc.
Federal Court Reporters
Supreme Court
U.S. Reports (U.S.)
Circuit (Appeals) courts
Federal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)
District (Trial) courts
Federal Supplement (F.Supp, F.Supp.2d)
Federal Statutory Law
“Reporter” = Statutes at Large (STAT)
“Digest” = U.S. Code (U.S.C.) (U.S.C.A.)
Federal Administrative Law
“Reporter” = Federal Register (FR)
“Digest” = Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974).
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974).
Name of Case
Party initiating case (Plaintiff or Appellant) listed first
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974).
Name of Case
Party initiating case (Plaintiff or Appellant) listed first
Book Series
(Reporter/Digest)
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974).
Name of Case
Party initiating case (Plaintiff or Appellant) listed first
Book Series
(Reporter/Digest)
Volume Number
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974).
Name of Case
Party initiating case (Plaintiff or Appellant) listed first
Book Series
(Reporter/Digest)
Volume Number
Start Page Number
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974).
Name of Case
Party initiating case (Plaintiff or Appellant) listed first
Book Series
(Reporter/Digest)
Volume Number
Start Page Number
Date
Sidis v. F-R Publishing Company, 113 F.2d. 806 (2d Cir. 1940).
Lower Court Cases add indication of what court decided case.
Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469 (1975)
Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469 (1975)
Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469 (1975)
Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469 (1975)
Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469 (1975)