Legal Resources in Print Format at Milner Library

Law cases are located by two methods - the case approach or the subject approach. The case approach is used when the individual knows one of the parties involved. The subject approach is used when the individual want to locate cases related to a particular topic/subject.

The master index to American case law is the General Digest (KF141). The index begins with the American Digest - Century Edition and is followed by the Decennial Digest covering ten year periods.

The Ninth Decennial Digest is divided into two parts: 1976 - 1981 and 1981 - 1986.

The Tenth Decennial Digest is divided into two parts: 1986 - 1991 and 1991 - 1996.

The Eleventh  

For 1992 to Present, volumes are printed on a regular basis.

Each of these Digests has three parts - a listing by subject/topic, a table of cases, and a descriptive word index. The updated volumes for 1992 to Present each contain a subject/topic section and a table of cases section. To research cases for this period (1992- Present) each volume much be consulted.

Cites to cases are given in the Digests. Examples of cites follow:

The first series covers older cases and the second series covers more recent cases. A “2d” is on the spine of all second series volumes.The Reporter System is a geographical arrangement of court reports/cases. The system also includes Supreme Court cases, U.S. Court of Appeals cases and cases from the U.S District Courts. The following are available in Milner:

Statutes

A subject arrangement of federal laws in found in the U.S. Code (Ref. Doc. Y1.2/5: Second Floor) and in the U. S. Code Annotated (KF65.W4). U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News (KF48) contains the complete text of public laws, legislative history of laws and administrative regulations. Statutes at Large (Ref. Doc. GS111: Second Floor) contains private and public laws, proclamations of the Presidents, and Constitutional amendments.

Illinois Statutes can be found in Illinois Compiled Statutes (Ref. KF 11229) and Smith-Hurd Illinois Compiled Statutes Annotated (KF11230.5W47).

Shepard's

Shepard's citations give the researcher the history of cases, statutes and other material subsequent to their effective date.

Shepard's U.S. Citations (KF101.2 S42) is used with Supreme Court cases and the U.S. Code.

Shepard's Federal Citations (KF105.2S42) is used with the Federal Reporter which covers U.S. Court of Appeals decisions and the Federal Supplement which covers Federal District and Court of Claims decisions.

Shepard's Illinois Citations (KFI1259.S397) is used with Illinois cases found in the North Eastern Reporter and also cover Illinois statutes.

Other Resources

Corpus Juris Secundum [C.J.S.](KF132.C6) and American Jurisprudence [Am. Jur.](KF132.A55) are encyclopedias giving comprehensive textual statements with footnotes citing cases. Words and Phrases (KF156) defines legal terminology and includes pertinent case citations.

U.S Law Week (Ref. KF105.1 U56) is a current update service with sections for General Law and Supreme Court.

Index to Legal Periodicals has a combined author and subject index and a separate Table Cases section.

American Law Reports [ALR] (KF105.A423). Milner has 2^nd Later Case Service, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.

George Palmer, Law Librarian