Authority
This term describes legal sources, like decisions from a higher court in the same jurisdiction, that a lower court must follow.
What is a mandatory authority?
The Massachusetts Bay Colony actually outlawed public celebrations of this major holiday between 1659 and 1681.
What is Christmas?
The wise legal researcher will avoid doing too much legislative history research by utilizing these
What are compiled histories?
This federal rule of court outlines the requirements for citing to unpublished opinions.
What is FRAP 32.1?
Both Lexis and Westlaw will help you created more targeted searches with this link on the home page and most resource pages
What is the Advanced Search link?
When a U.S. District Court in California hears a case involving only California state law issues, the following courts would offer mandatory authority:
What is the Cal. Supreme Court?
What is a basketball court?
This website can help you locate other websites since taken off the internet
What is the Wayback Machine or Internet Archive?
HIPAA officially became law on this date
What is August 21, 1996?
Mark Zuckerberg probably loves this kind of data, which is also helpful for investigations
What is Metadata?
From the French for "on the bench," it's the term for a session where all eligible judges of an appellate court participate in hearing and deciding a case.
What is en banc?
It might not be the most authoritative, but this US court is the highest elevation above sea level, which should at least make "highly" persuasive. (Correct state for credit)
What is the Lake County Courthouse, Leadville, Colorado?
This under-the-radar resource is helpful for stating statutory surveys, in addition to seeking law review articles or statutes at large
What is Hein Online?
Nike filed its last 10-k on this date
What is 7/25?
This type of legal writing format helps get your memo across in a clear, structured manner
What is IRAC or CREAC?
The increasingly common use of these orders partially undermines our understanding of federal district court authority (and Elon Musk HATES them!)
What are nationwide injunctions?
Boolean searching is named after this philosopher and mathematician
Who is George Boole?
This reporter, which ceased publication in 2021, covered unpublished federal court of appeals court decisions
What is Federal Appendix or F. App'x?
This semi-official California jury instruction provides the elements of IIED
What is CACI 1600?
This platform is most effective for simple, practice-based answers (rather than questions of jurisprudence)
What is Practical Law or Practical Guidance?
Judicial statements on points not essential to the case's outcome are considered this
What is dictum/dicta?
Before the Supreme Court had official reporters, these guys showed up and reported the proceedings
What are nominative reporters, such as Dallas, Cranch, et al.?
You might want to check this SEC form for CEO pay
What is DEF14A?
This section of the Virginia code exempts certain items from debt collectors or those satisfying a judgment
What is VA ST 34-26, which includes...
What is 21?