Opinions - Publication
Slip Opinions
Opinions are first issued as slip opinions. Then, "preliminary prints" of the United States Reports (the official case reporter of U.S. Supreme Court cases) are printed. About 3 years later, once the Court has made its final corrections, the United States Reports bound volumes are printed. The bound volumes are in the Wilson Reading Room and on the D'Angelo Law Library 5th floor, both at call number XXKF101.A212. Preliminary prints are available on the Supreme Court website and in the Reserve Reading Room.
Table of Dates, Decisions and Arguments
The Supreme Court has a table of dates, decisions and arguments in cases from the United States Reports, Vols. 2-107 (1791-1882), gathered from handwritten Court records, the Engrossed Minutes and Engrossed Documents. The Table is found on the Supreme Court website.
Recent Opinions
- United States Law Week This link opens in a new windowOpinions also appear in print within a week in the D'Angelo Law Reserve Reading Room, XXKF101.1.U53.
Core Sources for Opinions
- HeinOnline: United States Supreme Court Library This link opens in a new windowPDF files of every opinion, from bound volumes and preliminary prints of United States Reports, and slip opinions.
- United States ReportsCall Number: XXKF101.A212, D'Angelo Law, Reading Room & Bookstacks
- United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' EditionCall Number: XXKF101.A313, D'Angelo Law, Reading Room
- West's Supreme Court ReporterCall Number: XXKF101.A322, D'Angelo Law, Bookstacks
Updated biweekly. Unbound advance sheets in the Reserve Reading Room.
Opinions - Free Sources
- Google Scholar This link opens in a new windowTo search for Supreme Court opinions, choose the Case Law radio button and click Select Courts. Check the box next to Supreme Court, listed first in the third column from the left. Click on the Done button. You may now search by keyword in the search box.
- JustiaFrom 1791 to present.
- Supreme Court OpinionsAvailable via the U.S. Supreme Court website. Includes opinions until published in the official reporter.
Digests, Indexes and Citators
Digest
- West's Federal Practice Digest, 5th ed.XXKF127.W480, Wilson Reading Room
Offers key number access to Supreme Court and lower federal court opinions.
American Law Reports
- ALR Federal 2d: Cases and AnnotationsXXKF132.A532, D'Angelo Law, Reading Room
Publishes annotations on selected federal court decisions. The annotations give an overview of case law on the issue decided. Use the Index to Annotations to find a topic, or use a citator to find ALRs on a specific statute or case.
U. S. Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition
Use the Index to Annotations to find cases by topic. To find particular cases, use a citator. To find all Supreme Court cases dealing with a particular issue,use LexisNexis' U.S. Supreme Court Digest (database USDGST).
Citators
Shepard's on Lexis Advance and KeyCite on Westlaw give you references to cases, briefs, oral arguments, law reviews and other secondary sources that cite your case, and indicate whether the case is still good law.
