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Week 3--CALRCase Searching:

Westlaw Internet Resources

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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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Click on “lowest” key number of headnote.

Using Headnotes to find other cases

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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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Findlaw (Professionals)

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Opinion searches

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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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http://www.law.cornell.edu/

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Great for codes, rules, etc.— Not great for locating cases Good for Supreme Court activity.

Cornell

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Cornell--law

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JustiaFull-text

search box

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www.justia.com

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Justia

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Refer to Stern case

Locate volume Use “find” feature under edit

To find case with cite

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California: courts.ca.gov

Federal:◦ www.supremecourt.gov

Official Sites

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http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys

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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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Courts.ca.gov--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