Legal-Research-Review-James-E-Rogers-College-of-Law法律研究综述-课件

1、Legal Research ReviewLegal ResearchMarch 2005Leah Sandwell-WeissReference LibrarianLegal Research ReviewLegal ResPrimary Authority“The Law” generated by the three branches of governmentCasesStatutesAdministrative RegulationsAccessing primary authorities is the ultimate goal of nearly all legal resea

2、rchPrimary Authority“The Law” genSecondary AuthorityNOT “the law”Provides citations to primary authorityProvides background information that can aid in understanding primary authority (“the law”) May present novel theories that later find their way into primary authority Often provides the best star

3、ting point for research, especially when legal issues are unclearSecondary AuthorityNOT “the laMandatory Authority“The law” of your jurisdictionYour states highest courtYour states statutesYour states regulationsYour federal district courtYour federal court of appealsThe United States Supreme CourtH

4、ave to followMandatory Authority“The law” oPersuasive Authority“The law” from somewhere elseAnother states supreme courtAnother federal court of appealsSome secondary sourcesDont “have to” follow, but use to persuadePersuasive Authority“The law” Secondary SourcesProvide commentary on law & reference

5、s to primary law & other secondary sourcesPersuasive AuthorityLaw ReviewsTreatises (but not hornbooks or nutshells)RestatementsNot Persuasive AuthorityLegal EncyclopediasAmerican Law Reports (ALRs)Secondary SourcesProvide commeOrganization of Federal & State CourtsOrganization of Federal & StaReadin

6、g a CaseParallel Citation (editorial enhancement)Title (editorial enhancement)Docket # (editorial enhancement)Case Summary (editorial enhancement)Headnotes (editorial enhancement)Opinion (official)Reading a CaseParallel CitatioCase ReportersOrganized by jurisdictionCases in chronological orderArizon

7、a CasesArizona Supreme Court =Arizona Reports, P., P.2dArizona Court of Appeals =Arizona Appellate Reports (1965 1976), Arizona Reports, P., P.2dCase ReportersOrganized by jurFederal Courts & ReportersSupreme Court = U.S. Reports (U.S.) (official)Supreme Court Reporter (S. Ct.)U.S. Supreme Court Rep

8、orts, Lawyers Edition (L. Ed., L. Ed. 2d)Courts of Appeals = Federal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)District Courts =Federal Supplement (F. Supp., F. Supp. 2d)Federal Courts & ReportersSuprFinding casesAnnotated CodesSecondary SourcesDigest Topic Name and Key Number (subject index to all case law)If have

9、case name but no citation: Digest Table of CasesDatabase search on Westlaw or Lexis (pick the most narrow database)Finding casesAnnotated CodesDigestsAll cases on a given legal point collected under the same digest topic & key numberDigest topics & key numbers consistent through all West digestsSele

10、ct the appropriate DigestMost jurisdictionalDigestsAll cases on a given leUsing Digests to Find CasesFrom a case on pointUse the headnotes to identify relevant topics & key numbersFrom the Descriptive Word IndexLook up relevant subjectsCheck for new entries in pocket partFrom a topic entryCheck out

11、the outline of key numbersUsing Digests to Find CasesFroUsing Digests, contdFind topic & key number in right volumeCheck court & dates to target appropriate cases to readRead summariesUpdate with pocket parts or interim pamphletsUsing Digests, contdFind topiFinding Cases OnlineUse Annotated Codes on

12、lineFind known case online & use headnotes (Westlaw) or core terms/core concepts (Lexis)If already have a topic & key number, use them to find more cases on WestlawUse Shepards/KeyCiteTerms & Connectors/Natural Language SearchesPay attention to database selectionFinding Cases OnlineUse AnnotaCase La

13、w TipsLook for mandatory authority firstNote: case law always primary authorityIf there is insufficient mandatory authority, look for primary persuasiveRead opinions in full and cite only to the opinion itself Case Law TipsLook for mandatorStatutory PublicationSlip lawsSeparately issued versions of

14、each law as passedSession lawsChronological arrangement of statutesLaw as passed by legislature - No amendmentsCodesOrganized by subject, often called “Titles”“Current” version of law, with amendmentsStatutory PublicationSlip lawsAnnotated CodesCan be official or unofficialContain references to:Case

15、s (Notes of Decisions)Administrative code sections (CFRs)Legal encyclopediasLegislative historyLaw reviews & TreatisesWest Codes Headnotes & Key NumbersAnnotated CodesCan be officialFinding StatutesIn PrintSubject indexesSecondary Sources References in casesPopular Names Table to find specific actOn

16、lineReferences in casesShepards/KeyCiteTerms & Connectors/Natural Language SearchesFinding StatutesIn PrintUpdating Primary LawPocket Parts in PrintCitators (Shepards/KeyCite) OnlineValidating - is it still “good law?”History of the case Was your case overruled/revised on appeal?Citing References Wa

17、s your case been overruled/ invalidated entirely? Was it chipped away at such that the validity is questionable? Has your specific issue been affected by negative treatment?Expanding ResearchCiting References & secondary sources on the same or similar points of lawUpdating Primary LawPocket ParLimit

18、ing Citing ReferencesHeadnote number (specific Topic/Issue)JurisdictionType of document (case law, admin law, secondary sources)Specific additional terms (Locate on Westlaw and Focus on Lexis)Depth of treatment (Westlaw)Limiting Citing ReferencesHeadCompleting Your ResearchDid you address the question asked?Did you research the correct jurisdiction?Do you understand the area of law you are researching?Did you find enough applicable primary, mandatory authority to an