Transcript Using Shepard’s Citations Print Citators

Using Shepard’s Citations
In Print
Tina S. Ching
Reference Librarian
Ross-Blakley Law Library
What are Citators?
Legal Citation services
indicate how and when a
case or other legal resource
has been cited
Citators can be used for:
• Updating
– Precedential value
• Researching
– Finding other cases
– Finding articles
• Analyzing
– Treatment of the decision
The History of
Shepard’s Citations
• The inventor: Frank Shepard
• Only comprehensive service
available, until 1990’s
• Purchased by Reed Elsevier,
parent company of
LexisNexis in late 1990’s
• Currently the only
comprehensive print service
• “Shepardize”
Why Learn about
Shepard’s in Print?
• You like books
• The online version is based on
the print version
• You may be working for an
“old school” attorney
• You may not have computer
or Internet access
Some of the Different
Shepard’s Citators
• State
All 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of
Columbia
• Regional
All Regional Reporters
• Federal
Federal Reporter, Federal Supplement, etc.
• Specialized
Bankruptcy, Environmental, Immigration,
Patent & Trademark, etc.
• Other
Statutes, Regulations, Administrative
Decisions, Constitutions, Restatements,
Annotations, Law Reviews, etc.
How are Shepard’s
Arranged?
• Volumes are in numeric
order, based on the
Reporter
• Reporter title, series, and
volume information are
at the top of the page
• Cited case references
are listed in bold
• Parallel citations are in
parentheses
• Bound volumes are
supplemented on a
regular basis
Periodic Hard-bound Volumes
Updated by:
• Gold Pamphlet
– Published annually, semi-annually, or quarterly
• Red Pamphlets
– Published more frequently
• Blue pamphlets
• Gray Pamphlets
– Provides case name access
• Shepard's Daily Update Service
ALL supplements must be checked to
thoroughly update a citation
Can you Interpret This?
Cir. 11
f 91FS2d11094
Reading Shepard’s Case Citations
Step 1 – Case Abbreviations
Shepard’s has its own form of
abbreviating cases
91 F.Supp.2d 1094
→ 91FS2d1094
Step 2 – Case History
Abbreviations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
a = affirmed
cc = connected case
m = modified
D = dismissed
p = parallel
r = reversed
s = same case
S = superseded
v = vacated
Step 3 – Case Treatment
Abbreviations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
c = criticized
d = distinguished
e = explained
f = followed
j = dissenting
L = limited
~ = concurring
o = overruled
q = questioned
su = superseded by statute
Step 4 – Abbreviations for
Supreme Court Action
• US cert den = S.Ct. denied
certiorari and won’t hear the case
• US cert dis = Petition for certiorari
was dismissed, but the case may
be taken at a later time
• US reh den = Request for rehearing
denied
• US reh dis = Request for rehearing
dismissed
For other abbreviations, consult the
tables at the beginning of each
Shepard’s volume.
Step 5 – Citations to
Headnotes
91FS2d11094
• West headnote reference
• Multiple headnotes = multiple
entries
• Now with LexisNexis headnotes
Step 6 – References to
Jurisdictions
Cir. 11
f 91FS2d11094
• Citations from other
jurisdictions will be listed.
• Citations from secondary
sources will be listed at the
end.
Shepard’s Recap
• Helps to narrow research to
important cases
• Helps to narrow cases by
subject matter
• Identifies supporting law and
arguments
• Identifies secondary sources
for additional research
• If you don’t know what it
means, check the tables in
the front of the volume
The Most Important Thing to
Remember about Research
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS
Update Your
RESEARCH!!!
Failure to do so can cost
you time, your case, and
may even amount to
malpractice. Check
early, check often.
In the library, the Shepard’s
Citators are located on the first
floor in our core collection.
Entrance
Conveniently, they are on
the tables right in front of the
reference office. If you need
help, just ask me or any one
of the other librarians.
Reference
Office
Contact Information
Tina S. Ching
Reference Librarian
Ross-Blakley Law Library
[email protected]