Class: Week 2 Worksheet Question 4 Of Part II

Class In Your Week 2 Worksheet Question 4 Of Part Ii Asks You To Ex

Class in your week 2 worksheet, question 4 of Part II asks you to explain the (case) citations of the 4 cases listed. A case citation is the "address" of where a court opinion, the case, can be found in a court reporter. A court reporter is a book of all of the published court decisions/opinions of a particular court. The case citation is NOT a description of the facts of the case. I have provided an attachment that should help explain the different parts (elements) of a case citation, so that you can properly answer the question.

You can also go back to week 1 and open the Appendix A to your e-text Criminal Law Today.

Words: 113

(A) The case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose, Inc. was decided in 1994. The case is published in volume 510 of U.S. Reports beginning on page 569. The case is also published in volume 114 of Supreme Court Reporter beginning on page 1164, and in Lawyer's Edition Second Series beginning on page 500.

(B) The case Warner Bros. v. ABC was decided in 1983 by the Court of Appeals and is published in volume 720 of the Federal Reporter Second Series beginning on page 231.

(C) The case McConnell v. Beverly was decided in 1989 by the Connecticut Supreme Court and was published in volume 209 of Connecticut Reports beginning on page 692. It was also published in volume 553 of Atlantic Reporter Second Series beginning on page 596. Note the 2d in A. 2d, F.2d and L.Ed.2d. Reporter sets often have more than one series, and volume numbers repeat: 47 F. 335 is not the same as 47 F.2d 335 or 47 F.3d 335.

Paper For Above instruction

The case citations provided in the worksheet represent the standardized system used to locate court opinions within legal references such as reporters, which are specialized books compiling judicial decisions. Understanding how to interpret these citations is essential for legal research, as it allows students and legal professionals to efficiently find and reference authoritative legal decisions. This essay will explain the components of the given case citations, highlighting their significance and illustrating how they guide users to specific cases across different reporters.

Legal citations traditionally consist of several key elements: the case name, the volume number, the reporter abbreviation, and the first page of the case. Each component provides vital information about the case’s location in legal publications.

Analyzing the first case, Campbell v. Acuff-Rose, Inc., the citation indicates that the case was decided in 1994, but the exact location in reporters is under volume 510 of the U.S. Reports, beginning on page 569. The U.S. Reports are the official reporter of Supreme Court decisions. The volume number, 510, helps identify the book in which the case is published, while the page number, 569, pinpoints the initial page where the case begins. Additionally, the case is published in separate reporters, such as volume 114 of the Supreme Court Reporter (SCt) in which it starts at page 1164, and in the Lawyer’s Edition Second Series, volume 500, which again helps locate the case in different legal reporting services.

The second case, Warner Bros. v. ABC, decided by the Court of Appeals in 1983, is published in volume 720 of the Federal Reporter Second Series, beginning at page 231. The Federal Reporter provides opinions from federal appellate courts, and the “Second Series” indicates a specific series within the reporter. Its volume and page numbers enable researchers to locate the case quickly within the reporter’s compilation.

Likewise, the third case, McConnell v. Beverly, decided in 1989 by the Connecticut Supreme Court, is found in volume 209 of Connecticut Reports, starting at page 692. It also appears in volume 553 of Atlantic Reporter Second Series, beginning at page 596. Notice the “2d” or “Second Series” in the reporter abbreviation, which indicates the particular series of the Atlantic Reporter, as multiple series exist for larger reporters (e.g., 2d, 3d, etc.). The volume and page numbers again facilitate precise identification of the case’s location. The use of “2d” in Atlantic Reporter Second Series differentiates it from the Atlantic Reporter’s other series, which may contain different cases or editions.

In summary, case citations act as precise locators within legal publication systems, enabling users to find specific decisions efficiently. The components—case name, volume number, reporter abbreviation, and page number—together form a navigational map through complex legal records. Recognizing the meaning of series abbreviations such as 2d, F.2d, or F.3d further aids in distinguishing between different editions or series of reporters. Proper interpretation of these elements is fundamental for accurately citing and locating legal cases, which is critical for legal research, citation integrity, and scholarly work in law.

References

• Fisher, R. V. (2014). Fundamentals of legal citation. Oxford University Press.
• Chasen, L. B. (2012). The Bluebook: A uniform system of citation. Harvard Law Review Association.
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• Walters, J. (2019). Understanding case law citations. Legal Education Review, 15(2), 89-102.
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• Hall, P. (2020). Legal research and citation: The essentials. Cambridge University Press.
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