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Internet-Based Legal Research. Justice Teaching Institute April 24, 2006 Billie Blaine Supreme Court Librarian. Two broad types of Legal Research Resources. Primary Sources = THE LAW Statutes Constitutions Cases Regulations Secondary Sources = ABOUT THE LAW Law Dictionaries
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Internet-Based Legal Research Justice Teaching Institute April 24, 2006 Billie Blaine Supreme Court Librarian
Two broad types of Legal Research Resources • Primary Sources = THE LAW • Statutes • Constitutions • Cases • Regulations • Secondary Sources = ABOUT THE LAW • Law Dictionaries • Legal Encyclopedias • Law Journal Articles • Treatises (books about a specific area of the law)
Primary Sources • Statutes • Laws passed by legislatures (Florida Legislature, United States Congress) • Constitutions • Florida Constitution, United States Constitution • Cases • Written opinions from courts (Florida Supreme Court, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals) • Regulations • Passed by agencies (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Environmental Protection Agency)
Secondary Sources • Law Dictionaries • Define legal terms • Legal Encyclopedias • Explain legal concepts • Law Journal Articles • Explain legal concepts • Treatises (books about the law) • Explain in detail broad or specific legal concepts
When doing Internet legal research, always consider: • Source/reliability • Coverage • Currency • Searching capabilities
Legal Research Resources available on the Internet • More primary sources available, compared to secondary sources • Secondary sources not always reliable
Useful websites • Florida Supreme Court • Florida CyberCourt • JTI Internet Bibliography • Google, Yahoo, other search engines
2006 Case: Hilton v. State Relevant Sources • Hilton v. State, 29 Fla. L. Weekly D1475 (Fla. 2d DCA June 18, 2004) • Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA Feb. 16, 2005) • U.S. Const. amend. IV • Fla. Stat. § 316.610(1) (2001) • Fla. Stat. § 316.2952 (2001) • United States v. Cashman, 216 F.3d 582 (7th Cir. 2000) • Wis. Admin. Code § Trans. 305.34(3) (1997)
5 DCA’s, geographically located 20 Judicial Circuits 67 counties
Hilton v. State, 29 Fla. L. Weekly D1475 (Fla. 2d DCA, June 18, 2004) • Click on Florida Supreme Court site. • Click on Florida State Courts System. • Click on District Courts. • Click on Second District Court of Appeal. • Click on Opinions. • Click on June 18, 2004. • Case not found!
Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA, Feb. 16, 2005) • Hit back button twice. • Click on Feb. 16, 2005. • Click on Hilton v. State. • Look at second paragraph. • Previous decision withdrawn.
U.S. Const. amend. IV • Click on U.S. Constitution from the National Constitution Center. • Click on double right arrow in upper right corner. • Click on Amendment IV.
Fla. Stat. § 316.610(1) (2001) • Click on Online Sunshine under Florida Statutes. • Look for Chapter 316. • Click on title XXIII. • Click on Chapter 316. • Click on § 316.610. • Look for § 316.610(1).
Fla. Stat. § 316.2952 (2001) • Click on Chapter 316. • Click on § 316.2952.
United States v. Cashman, 216 F.3d 582 (7th Cir. 2000) • Click on Federal Courts Finder. • Click on the 7th Circuit on the map. • Click on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. • Click on Opinions (far left column). • Under Locate a Document by Person, enter Cashman in the Last Name or Corporation box. • Click on Search for Person. • Click on Opinion.
Wis. Admin. Code § Trans. 305.34(3) (1997) • Click on link for Administrative Codes under Other States’ Resources. • Click on Wisconsin under Law by Source: State. • Click on Administrative Code under Regulations and Other Agency Material. • Type trans 305.34 in top left box. • Look at § 305.34(3).
What if you’re looking for information, but have no specific citation? • Use the information you do have to find more specific information. • Do a quick Google search. • Include state, if you know. • Include party names, if you know. • Include issue or subject matter. • Be as specific as you can. • Example: florida cracked windshield case