In the common law tradition, judicial decisions constitute a legitimate legal authority much like administrative regulations and statutes. The United States Supreme Court, highest appellate court of the federal judicial system, has been referred to as the "court of the last resort." The court's decisions are binding on issues of law in all trial and appellate courts of the United States. It is the court's responsibility mandated by legal precedent to interpret case law in a fair and equitable manner. The judicial branch of our Federal government is an arm of our Federal system. It is composed of the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.How to Find a Supreme Court Decision
OVERVIEW:
ORGANIZATION:
In the United States, reporting of court cases began in the eighteenth century. The U.S. Reports is the official publication of court reports on the federal level. It is published by the U.S. Government Printing Office and updated by slip opinions. It takes approximately two years before a decision appears in bound volumes.
In the unofficial publication, United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition, (L. Ed.), Ref. KF 101 .U584 2nd series, court decisions are arranged chronologically beginning in 1790. Advance sheets are issued weekly and contain the most recent opinions of the Supreme Court.
The United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyer's Edition also provides summaries of counsel briefs and legal analysis in the form of annotations. Additionally, each volume provides the researcher with an alphabetical listing of Table of Cases and subject access in the Index of Decisions.
The Quick Case Table with Annotation References, Ref. KF101 .U584 2nd series provides a comprehensive list of cases in an A-Z listing. , Ref. KF101 .U584 2nd series provides a comprehensive list of cases in an A-Z listing.
A companion set to the United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition can be found in the United States Supreme Court Digest, Lawyers' Edition, Ref. KF 101.1 .D5. A digest typically divides the law into legal subjects. In it, one finds a brief summary and cite of the decision. A particular decision can be found under several subjects. This work includes only U.S. Supreme Court cases. A Word Index and Table of Cases Index can be used as finding guides. This work is particularly useful when researching points of law. It is updated by cumulative supplements.
EXAMPLE:
STEP 1
Find a U.S. Supreme Court decision that discusses the Japanese internment decisions during WWII.
Turn to Decisions, Annotations and Digest of the U.S. Supreme Court Digest, Lawyers' Edition
Legal Subject
Section Abbreviation of United States
Supreme Court Digest, Lawyers' Edition.
STEP 2
This citation leads the researcher to a brief summary of U.S. Supreme Court decisions found in United States Supreme Court Digest, Lawyers' Edition under that topic.
case cite
STEP 3
With the decision name of Korematsu vs. United States, you can now find a full text of the decision by using The Quick Case Table with Annotation References as a guide.
case cite
This cites Korematsu
This is the legal citation of Korematsu vs. United States decision. A standard case citation contains the name of the case and published sources in which you can find the decision. Information in parentheses indicates the year the decision was issued and finally, the prior or subsequent history, if any, of the decision.
STEP 4
Korematsu vs. United States (1944) 89 L Ed 194. The term L Ed is an abbreviated form of United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition.
ELECTRONIC DATABASES
The LEXIS file USLIST and the WESTLAW database
SCT, full-text legal databases, provide U.S. Supreme Court decisions quickly. They are
fee-based services. Should you require additional information, please consult with a
librarian.
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This page was last updated:
09/23/2006
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University of Colorado at Colorado Springs