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Clarification, Explanation, Etc.

Legal Bibliography

The common law depends on the concept that court decisions have the weight of statutory law. Statutory law, which includes rules of procedure in both civil and criminal matters, is passed by the legislature or by Congress.

In researching law look to four sources: constitutions, statutes, decisions of courts and administrative agency rules and regulations.

Decisions in common law are reported in legal reporters, which are law books produced chronologically. Without this aid a researcher would have to search at random. The law is indexed and the cases are reported in two systems, federal and state.

U.S. Supreme Court decisions are found in the Supreme Court reporter (S.Ct.). The Federal Reporter (F. and F. 2d) reports appeals, customs and patent decisions. The Federal Supplement (F.Supp.) has district and customs court rulings.

For state decisions the nation is divided into seven regions. Reporters in each provide the highest court and some appellate court cases. Texas cases are in the South Western (S.W., S.W. 2d and S.W.3d) reporters. Other states listed in South Western are Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee.

In citations the first number refers to the volume number, the second to the page number. The term in the middle is the reporter. For example, The New York Times v. Sullivan is at 84 S.Ct. 710, which is volume 84 of the Supreme Court reporter, page 710.

U.S. Supreme Court decisions are available on line from a variety of sources including www.findlaw.com and www.cornelllaw.edu. Texas Supreme Court cases are also available at many on line sources including www.courts.state.tx.us and the Texas Law Librarians site at www.suefaw.home.texas.net.

In Texas, the attorney general’s office provides handbooks on public information and public meetings. They may be obtained by writing or calling the attorney general’s office at Post Office Box 12548, Austin 78711-2548 or 512 463 2100. They are also available on line. The attorney general’s web site is www.oag.state.tx.us