Reports of the Courts
Legally Writing
Where to Find Me
So, Cite Me!
Precedent Setters
100
California Reports; Cal., Cal. 2d, Cal. 3d., Cal. 4th.
What is the official reporter for the California Supreme Court?
100
A material question of fact or law that arises from the claims, defenses, and arguments of the parties.
What is the issue?
100
The best place to locate a case that has interpreted a statute.
What are the notes and comments section of the statute?
100
Every assertion of law must have one.
What is a citation?
100
The court of highest resort in California.
What is the California Supreme Court?
200
An opinion of the court that is not citable to that court as persuasive authority.
What is an unpublished opinion?
200
A major premise, followed by a minor premise, completed by a conclusion
What is a syllogism?
200
The topical index created by Westlaw to research cases.
What is the Key Number system?
200
The reference to the specific page in the case that you are citing.
What is the pincite?
200
In matters of Federal law the court of last resort in the United States on Federal Law.
What is the United States Supreme Court?
300
California's Unofficial Reporter.
What is West's California Reporter?
300
Arguing by making a factual comparison to an underlying case and the facts of your case.
What is reasoning by analogy?
300
A great place to start if you are unfamiliar with the subject.
What is a secondary source?
300
Listing more than one authority to support your rule.
What is a string cite?
300
An opinion written by the minority of judges on a court.
What is a dissent?
400
L. Ed.
What is the United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition?
400
Stating the facts of the underlying case with an explanation of the holding of the case and the reasoning based upon those facts.
What is in depth analysis of the underlying case?
400
Topically organized summary of rules and holdings near the beginning of the opinion.
What are headnotes?
400
Introductory signal indicating the authority supports, but does not directly state, the proposition.
What is see?
400
An en banc decision.
What is a decision made by the full panel of judges for the court?
500
The regional reporter that contains reports of the California Supreme Court.
What is the Pacific Reporter?
500
The process of exploring the relationships between various related legal authorities to determine the rule of law.
What is rule synthesis.
500
Shepardizing.
What is updating a case/citating?
500
The Bluebook rule that explains citation format for cases.
What is Rule 10?
500
The Federal trial court that has jurisdiction over Fresno.
What is the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California?
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