Chapter 8Chapter 8Traditional Research ToolsTraditional Research Tools

American Law ReportsAmerican Law Reports

DigestsDigests

Shepard’sShepard’s

§8.1 §8.1 Beginning Your Legal Research:Beginning Your Legal Research:Issue vs. CaseIssue vs. Case

Start with Issue:Start with Issue: Index to:Index to:

DigestsDigests Key numbers with synopsis of cases by topics/regionKey numbers with synopsis of cases by topics/region

Am.Jur.2dAm.Jur.2d Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutesAnnotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes

C.J.S.C.J.S. Annotations with footnotes citing cases/statutesAnnotations with footnotes citing cases/statutes

A.L.R.A.L.R. Annotations with footnotes PLUS full court opinionAnnotations with footnotes PLUS full court opinion

Researching a CaseResearching a Case

……or start with the Case:or start with the Case: Headnotes:Headnotes:

Case indexCase index Provides topic/key numberProvides topic/key number

Access your regional digest e.g., Pacific DigestAccess your regional digest e.g., Pacific Digest Shepard’s:Shepard’s:

Provides additional case authorityProvides additional case authority Updates caseUpdates case

Opinion:Opinion: Refers to additional case authorityRefers to additional case authority

§8.2 §8.2 Expanding Your ResearchExpanding Your Research

CasesCases Expand research through:Expand research through:

HeadnotesHeadnotes Quick reference/indexQuick reference/index

Key NumbersKey Numbers Refer to West’s Digest for your regionRefer to West’s Digest for your region

The OpinionThe Opinion Review statutes, cases, authorities cited within Review statutes, cases, authorities cited within

the opinionthe opinion

§8.5 §8.5 American Law ReportsAmerican Law Reports

A.L.R.A.L.R. Publishes:Publishes:

Cases in fullCases in full Selected casesSelected cases

AnnotationsAnnotations Discussion/CommentaryDiscussion/Commentary

SeriesSeries State & federal cases:State & federal cases:

A.L.R.A.L.R. A.L.R.2dA.L.R.2d A.L.R.3dA.L.R.3d

State cases only:State cases only: A.L.R. 4A.L.R. 4thth

A.L.R. 5A.L.R. 5thth

Federal cases only:Federal cases only: A.L.R. FederalA.L.R. Federal

A.L.R. IndexA.L.R. Index A.L.R. IndexA.L.R. Index

Index leading to main volumesIndex leading to main volumes Update:Update:

Pocket part supplements/updates indexPocket part supplements/updates index Pocket part = pocket in back on volumePocket part = pocket in back on volume

Arranged chronologicallyArranged chronologically NOT topicallyNOT topically E.g.,E.g., 14 A.L.R. 4 14 A.L.R. 4thth 481 481

Volume 14Volume 14 44thth edition edition Page 481Page 481

A.L.R. Main VolumesA.L.R. Main Volumes

Index leads to Main VolumeIndex leads to Main Volume Main volumes contain:Main volumes contain:

Total Client Service LibraryTotal Client Service Library Reference to other research materialsReference to other research materials

Table of ContentsTable of Contents Points discussedPoints discussed

Annotation IndexAnnotation Index Table of Jurisdictions RepresentedTable of Jurisdictions Represented

A.L.R. SupplementsA.L.R. Supplements

Supplements update main volumesSupplements update main volumes Supplements = Pocket PartsSupplements = Pocket Parts

Pocket parts are in:Pocket parts are in: A.L.R. 3dA.L.R. 3d A.L.R. 4A.L.R. 4thth

A.L.R. 5A.L.R. 5thth

A.L.R. Fed.A.L.R. Fed. Look up same citation in main volume and pocket Look up same citation in main volume and pocket

partpart E.g.E.g. 83 A.L.R. 4 83 A.L.R. 4thth 685 685

Additional Research Materials:Additional Research Materials: Research Reference Tools:Research Reference Tools:

Electronic Search QueryElectronic Search Query West Digest Key NumberWest Digest Key Number

A.L.R. (first) and 2d SeriesA.L.R. (first) and 2d SeriesUpdatesUpdates

A.L.R. First Series Update:A.L.R. First Series Update: A.L.R. Blue Book of Supplemental A.L.R. Blue Book of Supplemental

DecisionsDecisions 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 ServiceA.L.R. Later Case Service

Additional A.L.R. Additional A.L.R. Research ToolsResearch Tools

A.L.R. DigestA.L.R. Digest Index of A.L.R. cases by topicIndex of A.L.R. cases by topic References cases analyzed by A.L.R.References cases analyzed by A.L.R.

A.L.R. 5A.L.R. 5thth

Revised:Revised: Case printing (cases at end of volume)Case printing (cases at end of volume) Total Client Service LibraryTotal Client Service Library Table of Jurisdictions (more extensive)Table of Jurisdictions (more extensive) Electronic Search QueryElectronic Search Query West Digest Key NumbersWest Digest Key Numbers

§8.2 §8.2 DigestsDigestsby West Publishing Companyby West Publishing Company

Digests act as an Digests act as an index to case lawindex to case law Arrange cases:Arrange cases:

1. Topically1. Topically 2. Then lists cases 2. Then lists cases

by jurisdictionby jurisdiction

Digest IndexDigest Index

Descriptive Word Descriptive Word IndexIndex Multi-volume indexMulti-volume index

Utilizes Key Number Utilizes Key Number SystemSystem Key Number Key Number

addresses the same addresses the same topics in ALL topics in ALL digestsdigests

E.g.,E.g., Contracts 49(3) deals with lack Contracts 49(3) deals with lack of consideration in Pacific Digest, of consideration in Pacific Digest, Atlantic Digest, etc.Atlantic Digest, etc.

Digest Main VolumesDigest Main Volumes

Consumer Protection Key No. 10Consumer Protection Key No. 10

Volume = Consumer Volume = Consumer ProtectionProtection

Key Number = Section 10Key Number = Section 10

Cases listed:Cases listed:(1) By Jurisdiction(1) By Jurisdiction(2) By Year(2) By Year

Pocket Parts Update Pocket Parts Update Digests!!!Digests!!!

Paragraph Summary

of case

Key Number System Key Number System is universal within West Digestsis universal within West Digests

Key Number System is the same for Key Number System is the same for all digests: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 DigestAtlantic Digest Pacific DigestPacific Digest North Western DigestNorth Western Digest Etc.Etc.

§8.2 §8.2 Shepard’s CitatorsShepard’s Citators

Validates authorityValidates authority Is the case still good Is the case still good

law?law? Is it overruled?Is it overruled?

Provides parallel Provides parallel citescites Official, unofficial Official, unofficial

reportersreporters Case finderCase finder

Lists other casesLists other cases

discussing cited casesdiscussing cited cases

Treatment Treatment Notations Notations

..

The Citing MaterialThe Citing Material

Headnote Headnote ReferencesReferences Indicates which Indicates which

headnote is reviewed headnote is reviewed

Case FinderCase Finder Lists other cases that Lists other cases that

have addressed cited have addressed cited casecase

Shepard’s UpdatesShepard’s Updates

Updated with:Updated with: White Advance Sheet -- most recentWhite Advance Sheet -- most recent Blue Intermediate SupplementBlue Intermediate Supplement Red Cumulative SupplementRed Cumulative Supplement Yellow Cumulative SupplementYellow Cumulative Supplement Hardbound SupplementsHardbound Supplements

““Your Library Should Contain”Your Library Should Contain” Lists supplements for volumesLists supplements for volumes

Online ValidationOnline 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)

Shepardizing ReviewShepardizing Review

1. 1. Shepardize the publicationShepardize the publication 2. Look up volume, chapter, title2. Look up volume, chapter, title 3. Look up page or section number3. Look up page or section number 4. Use the Table of Authorities to define 4. Use the Table of Authorities to define

symbolssymbols 5. Check softbound supplements5. Check softbound supplements 6. Check hardbound supplements6. Check hardbound supplements

Review of Review of Basic Federal CitationBasic Federal Citation

U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme CourtTitleTitle, ___ U.S. ___, ___ S.Ct. ___, ___ L.Ed. ___ , ___ U.S. ___, ___ S.Ct. ___, ___ L.Ed. ___

(Year)(Year)

U.S. Court of U.S. Court of AppealsAppeals

TitleTitle, ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year), ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year)

U.S. District CourtU.S. District Court Title, ___ Title, ___ F. SuppF. Supp. ___ . ___ (District Year)(District Year)

USSupreme

Court

US Circuit CourtCourt of Appeals

US District CourtTrial Court

§8.10 §8.10 Federal Case Law ResearchFederal Case Law Research

Research in Unofficial PublicationsResearch in Unofficial Publications S. Ct. & L. Ed. 2dS. Ct. & L. Ed. 2d Provides research toolsProvides research tools

Headnotes, key numbers, Headnotes, key numbers, etc.etc.

Star PaginationStar Pagination (next slide) (next slide) Provides parallel citations to official pub.Provides parallel citations to official pub.

Headnotes, Annotations, BriefsHeadnotes, Annotations, Briefs Headnotes: Topical summaries of caseHeadnotes: Topical summaries of case Annotations: CommentaryAnnotations: Commentary Briefs: Attorney’s argumentsBriefs: Attorney’s arguments

Star PaginationStar Pagination Provides parallel pagination citeProvides parallel pagination cite

*115**115*[115][115]

[343 U.S. 115][343 U.S. 115]

Indicates where page begins in unofficial publicationIndicates where page begins in unofficial publication

Official Publication Unofficial PublicationOfficial Publication Unofficial Publication

Appellate Court CasesAppellate Court Cases

Federal ReporterFederal Reporter Reports appellate court casesReports appellate court cases Note: Federal Appendix (unpublished cases)Note: Federal Appendix (unpublished cases)

U.S. Court of Appeals citation formatU.S. Court of Appeals citation format:: TitleTitle, ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year), ___ F.2d ___ (# Cir. Year)

US Circuit CourtCourt of Appeals

District Court CasesDistrict Court Cases

Federal SupplementFederal Supplement District Court CasesDistrict Court Cases

U.S. District CourtU.S. District Court

Title, ___ Title, ___ F. SuppF. Supp. ___ . ___ (District Year)(District Year)

US District CourtTrial Court

§8.14 §8.14 Federal Statutory ResearchFederal 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 codesResearch within unofficial codes, but , but cite to the officialcite to the official

Citation: 18 U.S.C. §4180 (1980)Citation: 18 U.S.C. §4180 (1980) Title: Title: 1818 Code:Code: U.S.C.U.S.C. Section:Section: 41804180 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 NotesNotes of Decisions

§8.16 §8.16 State Statutory ResearchState Statutory Research

How are statutes arranged?How are statutes arranged? By topicBy 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 stateVaries by state

How do I research state statutes?How do I research state statutes? Begin in the INDEXBegin in the INDEX