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Research Guides

FIVS 415/435 Science & Law / Case Studies in Problem Solving (Spring 2024)

Case Searching with Nexis Uni

GETTING STARTED

  • Log in to Nexis Uni. Under "What are you interested in?"  Select Cases. The default is "Federal Cases."  If you are looking for federal cases, leave as it is or select a different jurisdiction. Enter your search term, for example, dna wrongly convicted, and then search.

SEARCH MODES

  • All Nexis Uni - searches everything or use the arrow button to choose a sub-category such as "Cases" or "Law Reviews & Journals."
  • Guided Search - is easier to use.
  • Advanced Search - may find more precise results. For example, overview(dna and wrongful conviction)
  • Get a Doc Assistance - By citation, By Party Name & By Docket Number

QUICK SEARCH

  • By Citation             792 F.3d 1174
  • By Parties              United States v. De Watson
  • By Topic                 DNA evidence AND postconviction testing

[Optional - Use Get a DOC Assistance to search by Citation, Party Name or Docket Number].
[Optional - Segment search in Case can be very helpful. For example, overview(dna and wrongful conviction)]
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What is a citation?

  • A reference system to identify the past judicial decisions on cases or other information. With a citation, one can quickly locate the full text of the case. See citation format and examples below. Case Citation Format in Reporters or Law Reports:

Plaintiff | Defendant |Volume |Reporter |Page |Court   |Year
Blackburn v. Fisk          433       F.2d        121    (6th Cir. 1971)

where "F.2d" stands for The Federal Reporter, 2nd series.  Please note that not all citations follow the full format, e.g., 834 N.E.2d 432. Also, one case could have more than one citations, for example, all of these four citations 834 N.E.2d 432; 162 Ohio App. 3d 642; 2005 Ohio 4331;  2005 Ohio App. LEXIS 3932 refer to one case.   

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SEARCH RESULTS

  • Each case is headed with a case treatment indicator (yellow triangle etc.). Case Summary/Overview box is a good place to get the quick facts and outcome. Search terms will be highlighted with a brief context. Search Within Results on the left will help narrow down to specific results.
  • Click on a case link to read the case. For example,  United States v. De Watson, 792 F.3d 1174. On the right panel of the case page, you will find reasons for Shepard's signal (green, yellow, red etc.). Shepardizing is a quick way to find the "good law" cases. To cite this case, use the the "Export Citation" link on the top.

HOW TO READ A CASE?

  • Facts first. Ask what the issue is or what the principles the case stands for. Then ask how the court resolved the issue and their reasoning.  Note: Opinion does NOT equal decision. An opinion is the court's explanation for its decision; a decision either affirms or reverses the lower court or tribunal.

PSU also publishes an excellent guide on how to read a legal case:
    1. Begin with the name and citation of the case.
    2. Is this case being decided by a trial court or an appellate court? (Note: most cases you read will be
        appellate cases, because the opinions of trial courts have less precedential value)
    3. In the original case, who was the plaintiff and who was the defendant?
    4. What was the original complaint? (libel, invasion of privacy, violation of a statute, etc.)
    5. What were the facts that led to the complaint?
    6. What was the trial court's decision? (who "won" the case)
    7. What are the legal questions/issues that are being raised on appeal?
    8. What is the present court's decision (is the original decision affirmed, reversed, or remanded?)
    9. What rule or test is the court using to decide the outcome? This will relate to the legal question
        that must be decided.
    10.What reason does the court give for using this rule?
Url: <https://www.courses.psu.edu/comm/comm403_jsb15/howtoreadcase.html>

More TIPS (on how to read a case):

1) Where Are Court's Decisions Located? - Opinion

  • It is located in the OPINION section. OPINION contains "a statement that is prepared by a judge or court announcing the decision after a case is tried; includes a summary of the facts, a recitation of the applicable law and how it relates to the facts, the rationale supporting the decision, and a judgment; and is usually presented in writing, though occasionally an oral opinion is rendered." [Legal Dictionary]

2) What is Syllabus?

  • Syllabus contains a summary of the rulings of the court on the case. Syllabus usually precedes right before OPINION but it is usually not part of the court's decision. United States Reports (the official record of the rulings of the Supreme Court) usually contain two parts - Syllabus and Opinion. The case in Lexis, however, contains much more. See the next Q and A .

3) What Are Headnotes?

  • Headnotes trace the discussion of specific points of law or fact through the use of headnote numbers. When reading a case, you may see headnotes here and there. A HN gives a brief summary of a point of law. When clicked, a HN will jump to a specific court opinion in the text of the case, helping readers to understand the opinion relevant to that law. Please note that HN is only an editorial interpretation not a part of the court's decisions.

4) What Do the Pagination Notes Refer to?

  • When reading a case in Lexis, you may come across pagination notes like [*424] or [**55].  The asterisks refer to different reporters. The numbers refer to the printed pages from a reporter. There are four different reporters:

U.S. Reports – no asterisk
Supreme Court Reporter – one asterisk   *
Lawyers Edition – two asterisks               **
Lexis – three asterisks                            ***

Note: When you cite a page, do not include the * asterisk mark(s).
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ABBREVIATION - Reporters / Law Reports

   National Reporter System
 ▪ F. SUPP. (The Federal Supplement. Cases decided by the US District Courts)
 ▪ F.2d.3d. (The Federal Reporter, 2nd series or 3rd series, contains cases decided by the US Courts of
   Appeals Authority & Jurisdiction
 ▪ F.R.D. (Federal Rules Decisions. Decisions of the US Distr. Courts not covered in F.SUPP)
 
   Supreme Court Decisions are reported in:
 ▪ U.S. (United States Reports)
 ▪ S. Ct. (Supreme Court Reports)
 ▪ L.Ed. 2d (Lawyers Edition, 2nd Series)
 ▪ L.W. (US Law Weeks)

   State Courts Decisions are reported in these reporters:
 ▪ N.E.2d (Northeaster: MA, RI, NY, OH, IN & IL)
 ▪ A.2d (Atlantic: MD, NH, VT, CT, NJ, PA, DE & D.C.
 ▪ So.2d (Southern: FL, AL, MS, and LA)
 ▪ S.E.2d (Southeaster: VA, WV, NC, and GA)
 ▪ S.W.2d (Southwestern: KY, YN, MO, AR and TX)
 ▪ P.2d. (Pacific: MT, WY, ID, KS, CO, OK, NM, UT, AZ, NV, WA, OR & CA)
 ▪ N.W. 2d (Northwester: MI, WI, IA, MN, SD, and NE)
 ▪ N.Y.S.2d (New York Supplement: NY States courts)
 ▪ Cal. Rptr. (California Reporter: California)
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