Locating Cases - Print vs. Electronic

Locating a case is very easy if you know its citation and have access to an electronic research platform. All you have to do is type the reporter citation, and the case will appear. For example, you can retrieve Daniels v. State, 681 S.E.2d 642 (Ga. Ct. App. 2009) on Westlaw or Lexis+ by simply typing 681 S.E.2d 642 in the search box.


Type 681 S.E.2d 642 in the search box.

 

However, retrieving a case in print is a bit more complex. Until the late 19th Century, it was very difficulty to access case law. So West started the business of compiling federal and state cases and organizing them into various sets of books known as reporters. For example, cases from Nevada are published in Pacific Reporter but cases from the United States Courts of Appeals are published in Federal Reporter.

 

Reporters for State & Federal Cases

The Supreme Court 

  • U.S. Supreme Court cases are published in United States Report. This is the official government publication, not a West product.
    • West and Lexis also publish unofficial, commercial reporters for the Supreme Court cases
      • West -> Supreme Court Reporter
      • Lexis -> Supreme Court Reports Lawyer's Edition 
  • So which reporter do I use to cite a Supreme Court case?
    • Bluebook Rule B10.1.3 says you should cite United States Report (U.S.) if the case appears there. Otherwise, use Supreme Court Reporter (S. Ct.)  

 

The United States Courts of Appeals

  • Court of Appeals cases are published in Federal Reporter. 
  • Reporter abbreviation:
    • F. (Federal Reporter)
    • F.2d (Federal Reporter, Second Series)
    • F.3d  (Federal Reporter, Third Series)

 

The United States District Courts 

  • District Court cases are published in Federal Supplement
    • Reporter abbreviation:
      • F. Supp. (Federal Supplement)
      • F. Supp. 2d (Federal Supplement, Second Series)
      • F. Supp. 3d (Federal Supplement, Third Series)

 

Examples

  • Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962)
    • The abbreviation U.S. tells us that this is a Supreme Court case. The parenthesis also tells us that the case is decided in 1962
    • Case appears in volume 369, page 186, of United States Report 
  • United States v. Baxter, 492 F.2d 150 (9th Cir. 1973)
    • The abbreviation F.2d tells us that this is a Court of Appeals case. The parenthesis also tells us that it is a 9th Circuit case from 1973
    • Case appears in volume 492, page 150, of Federal Reporter, Second Series 
  • Harris v. Roderick, 933 F. Supp. 977 (D. Idaho 1996)
    • The abbreviation F. Supp. tells us that this is a federal district court case. The parenthesis also tells us that it is a District of Idaho case from 1996
    • Case appears in volume 933, page 977, of Federal Supplement 

State Reporters

  • About 30 states have reporters that publish state appellate cases for their own state

Regional Reporter

  • State cases are published in 7 different regional reporters. For example, cases from Nevada, Arizona, and California (and several other states) are published in Pacific Reporter.
  • This map shows which reporter contains state cases from a particular state. Use Bluebook T1.3 to see abbreviations for regional reporters