U.S. v. Chambers, 671 F.2D 781, 784 (3d Cir. 1984).
What is a an incorrectly capitalized "d"?
100
Derives its authority solely from usages and customs of judgments as well as decrees of the courts.
What is common law?
100
The types of cases that appear in the "U.S." reporter.
What are U.S. Supreme Court cases?
100
Contains articles called annotations on a particular point of law. Written by attorney-editors. Also contains a fully reported case illustrating the particular point of law that is the subject of the annotation. Differs from a legal encyclopedia because it is narrower and more exhaustive on the narrow point of law addressed.
What is an ALR?
200
The generic term for sources that are not binding.
What is persuasive authority?
200
U.S. v. Bronson, 230 F.3d 883, 888 (6thCir. 1933).
What is a missing space between the "th" and "Cir."?
200
The requirement that a court adhere to prior principals of law and apply them to all future cases that involve substantially the same facts.
What is stare decesis?
200
The types of cases that appear in the "F." reporter.
What are federal circuit court cases?
200
Statements in a court's decision that are not essential to the outcome of that particular case or that are not necessary to explain the decisions. These statements are not binding on future courts.
What is dicta?
300
Includes cases, statutes and constitutions.
What is primary authority?
300
U.S. . Moore, 711 F.2d 1420, 1429 (1983).
What is a missing "v"?
300
Prior case law that is close in facts or legal principals to the case under consideration.
What is precedent?
300
The types of cases that appear in "F. Supp."
What are federal district court cases?
300
Every court must follow this court's opinions on federal law (mandatory authority on federal law). This court's opinions, however, are only persuasive on state law issues.
What is the United States Supreme Court?
400
Includes treatises, law review articles and ALRs.
What is secondary authority?
400
Lornzen v. GKN Armstrong Wheels, Inc., 345 F. Supp. 2d 977 (N.D. Iowa 2004).
What is a missing pincite?
400
Published volumes of case decisions by courts.
What is a reporter?
400
The regional reporter that contains Missouri state cases.
What is the Southwestern reporter series?
400
A standard legal research tool that organizes each point of law topically and assigns each point of law a reference number.
What is a key topic and a key number? Remember, you need both a key topic and a key number!
500
The highest law of the land that nothing can override.
What is the United States Constitution?
500
Bluette, 581 F.3d 2098 at 2099.
What is the incorrectly included first page reference.
500
An index of reported cases that provides brief statments of the court's holding or facts of the cases and which is arranged by subject.
What is a digest?
500
The West publication that contains Missouri cases organized topically. Once you find a relevant key topic and key number, you can use this publication to find more cases.
What is the Missouri digest?
500
State trial courts in the city of St. Louis would appeal to this intermediate appellate court.
What is the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District?