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Basic Legal Research: Library Guide

Resources and search tips for finding legal scholarship, court cases, statutes, regulations, and legislative histories.

Locating U.S. Supreme Court Cases

U.S. Appeals & District Courts

State Cases

State cases are found in books called reporters. Some states have their own official reporters, such as the California Reporter. You can also find state cases in "regional reporters" containing cases from several states. For example, Louisiana cases are contained in the Southern Reporter.

Because state legal cases are relatively easy to find online using electronic sources, this guide will not show the process of locating them in print. If the case is relatively recent (last ten years), you may be able to locate a case free through the individual states court website. Also, try the Findlaw State Law Collection or the Cornell Legal Information Institute State Resources. To locate them electronically use the following resources:

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