case searching: westlaw internet resources 1. westlaw guide for paralegals: chapters 1-3 case...
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Westlaw Guide for Paralegals: Chapters 1-3 Case Searching (short pdf) Boolean Searching (short pdf)
These are posted on Websites—or downloadable from Westlawnext.com (Tutorial information)
Reading:
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Cases◦ Basic Search:
Known Case: Citation, Case Name Searching for relevant cases: Key words, Boolean,
Browsing
◦ Advanced Search: Template, Boolean Connectors and Field or Segment searching
Westlaw
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A case citation includes ◦ the Case Name (italicized), ◦ The volume of the print case reporter in which the
case appears, ◦ The abbreviation for the case reporter and series
number where appropriate◦ The page where the case begins◦ The year (and if a federal case, the circuit or
district from which it comes.)
Review: Case Citations
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Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966)◦ U.S. (United States Reports) is the official cite, the
others are unofficial or parallel.) Doody v. Ryan, 649 F.3d 986 (9th Cir. 2011)
◦ F. = Federal Reporter◦ 3d is the series
Johnson v. Cullen, 704 F. Supp. 2d 869 (N.D. Cal. 2010)◦ F. Supp. = Federal Supplement
Examples—Federal (BB)
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People v. Storm (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1007, 1039 [124 Cal.Rptr.2d 110, 135, 52 P.3d 52, 73]◦ Brackets often omitted◦ Cal = California Reports (official)◦ Cal. Rptr. = California Reporter (unofficial/parallel)
People v. Simpson (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 854 [76 Cal.Rptr.2d 851]◦ Cal. App. = California Appellate Reports
Examples—California (Calif. Style Manual)
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Worksheet 2B◦ 13. volume 92 page 496 California Appellate
Reports 3d series
◦ 14. 438 U.S. 265
Let’s Try some basic searches with citations
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Select jurisdiction (citations don’t depend on jurisdiction—but names do)
In search box put case name from citation◦ i.e. Miranda v. Arizona (a U.S. Supreme Court
case)◦ Doody v. Ryan (a federal appellate court case)◦ People v. Storm ( a California supreme court case)◦ People v. Simpson *
Use basic search then use advanced search Advanced search uses Boolean and “field” search
◦ All of these cases deal with a Miranda issue
Searching by name
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Click “cases” under Browse Select a specific case
◦ 10 most recent will appear
Let’s browse recent cases from California Court of Appeals—select most recent◦ What is the citation for the case?
Browsing—looking for a new case
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Key word, Boolean, Advanced
Key words can be factual or legal Always important to know what your task is
Common question: Attorney remembers reading a recent case
dealing with “special employee” Can you find it? (Use advanced search)
Searching by Topic
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Identify jurisdiction: 2 Identify issue Identify key words (words likely to appear in
a relevant case) Basic search, Boolean search (can use
either basic search box or advanced) or Advanced template.
Let’s look at Worksheet # 21 (assume U.S. Supreme Court) #28.
Before you begin
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Clark v. Arizona◦ View◦ Access case◦ Look at right panel—research help◦ Look at top menu◦ Case features: synopsis, West headnotes, Syllabus,◦ Opinion, star pagination (other search features from
top menu); copy with citation; (we will discuss key cite and key numbers later)
229 Cal. App. 4th 45
Let’s look at the features of a case
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Free Commercial Sites◦ Findlaw http://lp.findlaw.com/◦ Cornel law.cornell.edu◦ Justia.com www.justia.com
Government Sites◦ Official California Cases: www.courts.ca.gov◦ Federal Cases: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys◦ Library of Congress: http://
www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/federal.php
Case Law: The Free Internet
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Advantages:◦ Can do some “full text” searching◦ Can access laws and cases from numerous states
and courts of appeal◦ Easy access to U.S. Supreme Court cases◦ Newsletters
Disadvantages◦ Must sign in/register (free)◦ Searching all Courts of Appeals difficult◦ Searching by citation can be difficult.◦ For many courts—only recent decisions (after
2000)
Findlaw Professional
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These are different searches and Summaries only seem to go back to 2006 (see slide 17)
To search for cases go to Browse cases and codes (see slide 18) (Located below opinion summary template.)
Opinion Summaries v. Opinions
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General Keyword SearchCalifornia Domestic PartnersLi v. Yellow Cab
Federal Appellate CasesStern v. University of Osteopathic Med. and Health Sciences, 220 F.3d 906 (8th Cir. 2000)
by case nameby citationSearch opinion summaries then case opinions
Let’s Try a few searches
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Great for codes, rules, etc.— Not great for locating cases Good for Supreme Court activity.
Cornell
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384 U.S. 436
• U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, December 23, 2009Vascular Solutions, Inc. v. Marine Polymer Tech., Inc. , No. 08-1911
• United States Ninth Circuit, 05/24/2013
Institution of Cetacean Research v. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, No. 12-35266 (Alien Tort Statute),
Court Opinions:
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1. 49 C. 3d 1230 (cite from Witkin)◦ Copy with cite feature—highlight then click on
copy with cite after name—but do not get page 2. American G.I. Forum v. Miller 3. Does DMV have power to prohibit
offensive license plates? (use both terms and advanced search) How many cases? What are the first 5 cases retrieved? What is the answer to the question?
4. 142 Cal. App. 4th 1260 check headnotes
Search published opinions