Case Law Research

Anatomy of a Case

The following images show the various components of a case.

This image shows many components of a case such as citation, docket number, editorial summary, and headnotes.

Just like the previous image, this one also is a screenshot from a case.

A Few Things to Note:

  • Do not cite any editorial enhancement (headnotes, key numbers, editorial summaries) in your brief
    • These are not actual text of opinion. Rather, they are enhancements added by the publisher
  • Electronic research platforms (Westlaw and Lexis) also provide editorial enhancement and actual text of the opinion
    • For example, Go to Westlaw and type 37 N.E.3d 965 in the search box to retrieve the case shown above 
  • You can find additional cases on point by using headnotes and key numbers.