Basic Legal Skills

Finding CasesJan. 30, 2004

Cases: terminology

Case = decision= opinion Published vs. unpublished Mandatory and persuasive authority

Court Structure – Federal and State

Federal State

Court of Last Resort

U.S. Supreme Court

WA Supreme Court

Intermediate Appellate Court ↑

Ninth Circuit* Court of Appeals

* = Circuit map

WA Court of Appeals

Trial Court ↑

U.S. District Court for Western District of WA

King County Superior Court

Reporters

“slip opinion” → “advance sheet” → Reporter official vs. unofficial (parallel citations) National Reporter System (West)

– All federal and state cases; chronological– 7 Regional Reporters (state cases)– Reporters in the Law Library,

http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/repdig.htm

Traditional Case Finding Methods

1. Digests

2. American Law Reports (ALR) and Secondary Sources

3. Electronic databases

American Digest System (West)

What is a Digest?

Acts as an index to the National Reporter system– find cases by legal issue or subject

A tool that collects and organizes case law by subject (“topic”) and narrow sub-headings (“key numbers”)

– over 400 “topics” (e.g., contracts, searches and seizures, wills)

Gives brief summaries of cases– headnotes from cases

Using Digests – 4 steps

1. Select best Digest

2. Locate Topic and Key Number

3. Read case summaries

4. Update (pocket parts etc.)

Locating the Correct Digest

1. JurisdictionFederal, State, Regional & Combined

2. DateCover a set period of time – ie. 10 year blocks

3. Digests in the Law Library, http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/repdig.htm#digests

Law Library has these:

Topic and Key Number

The Topic and Key Number

Find Topic & Key Number (3 ways)

1. One good case

2. Descriptive Word Index

3. Review Topic outline

(1) One Good Case Approach

1. You have a case that is on point

2. Find the Topic and Key Number of the relevant issue (looking in headnotes)

3. Go to that Digest volume and search for cases in your jurisdiction

(2) Use Descriptive Word Index

1. Generate some general Search Terms

2. Look in Descriptive Word Index to narrow down terms and locate correct Topic

3. Use the Key Numbers within the Topic to pinpoint relevant issues

Generate search terms.

(3) Use relevant Topic Volume

1. Retrieve the Digest volume containing your Topic (on spine)

2. Scan Topic/Subject & Key Number outline

3. Browse the relevant Key Number sections for cases in your jurisdiction

The digest topic“Animals” appears in thisbook

Scan the “Analysis”table for a relevantkey number

Updating Digest Research

1. Check pocket part of volume you are using --- including Descriptive Word Index

2. Check the Interim pamphlet – updates pocket part

3. Check Mini-Digest in relevant Reporter volumes

American Law Reports

Full-text of important cases from variety of jurisdictions AND

“Articles” or “annotations” providing in-depth analysis and overview of legal topic– case citations and summaries– references to other secondary sources

Research Process for A.L.R.s

1. Look for your search term in the Index

2. Narrow down your issue and go to the appropriate volume.

* Read the same as a case citation*

97 A.L.R. 3rd 688

Volume Series Page

Update by referringto the pocket part.

Pocket parts will reference new, related annotations

and new case lawwritten since theoriginal annotation.

Finding Cases usingSecondary Sources

Annotated Statutes (RCWA, USCS) Citators (KeyCite and Shepard’s) Legal Encyclopedias (AmJur and CJS) Treatises (Nimmer on Copyright) Law Review Articles

– Godden, Katherine A. Cartoon criminals: the unclear future of computer animation in the Minnesota criminal courtroom. (State v. Stewart, 643 N.W.2d 281, Minn. 2002.) 30 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 355-577 (2003).

Looseleaf Services Words and Phrases (judicial definitions)

Westlaw

Key Number Digest: “Custom Digest”– Topics translated into numbers (Adoption = 17)

Key Search– “scripted” searches with Key Numbers and Terms

Go to http://lawschool.westlaw.com

Exercise

Question: if I stop using the easement over my neighbor’s property to access my house will I lose my rights to that easement?– ½ class uses Westlaw Key Number Digest– ½ class uses Westlaw Key Search

Go to: http://lawschool.westlaw.com

Lexis: Search Advisor

Caselaw Research Checklist

Preliminary Analysis– jurisdiction, terms, time period

Consult Secondary Sources– note Topic/Key Numbers, cases, statutes

Annotated Statutes Read cases Use Digest or other secondary sources to find more

cases Update (review citators next week)