CRM 123: Case Law: Notes on Using Nexis Uni

You can retrieve cases by citation or title. You can also retrieve statutes and regulations by citation.

Retrieving a Case by Citation

Most cases have a unique identifying citation, typically consisting of the volume number, the abbreviated name of the print reporter and the page number on which the case is found.

• EX: to retrieve the case Bush v. Gore, 121 S. Ct. 525 (2000), type 121sct525 in the searchbox
• Ex: locate Miller v Alabama. Type 132sct2455  in the searchbox

Retrieving a Case by Title

• If you know the title of a case, you can retrieve it using the names of the parties listed in the title.
• For example, to retrieve Bush v. Gore, type bush V gore in the searchbox

Retrieving a Statute or Regulation by Citation

• To retrieve the statute 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983, type 42usca1983 in the text box.
• To retrieve volume 65 of the Federal Register, page 81082, type 65fr81082.

Tap or Click on History

Locate:

1. Jackson V State

What are some similarities to Miller V Alabama?

Why are these other cases in the History for Miller V Alabama?

Use a ? to find variations of a word
Use a question mark (?) to find variations of a word by replacing characters anywhere in the word, except the first character.  Use one question mark for each character you wish to replace.  Example: wom?n would find woman and women ;  p??erson would find both the ea and the ie spelling of the name

Using * or an ! to find variations of a word
Use an asterisk (*) or an exclamation mark (!) to find a root word plus all the words made by adding letters to the end of it.
Example: Employ* would find variations on the term employ such as employee, employer, employment, and their plurals
Tip: Use * only to find unique roots: fir! will find fired, firing and fires but will also find words which you may not want (ex. firment)
You can use an exclamation mark (!) in place of the * if you wish.  Both function in the same way but there must be at least 3 characters in from of the ! or you might receive unexpected results

Nexis Uni uses Shepard's Signal Indicators to provide context about point of law authority. Legal standing and authority can change over time, and it is important to verify that the points of law within cases are still valid, or "good law."  Shepard's Reports provide a comprehensive review of cases, statutes, secondary sources and annotations that cite the case's authority and validate the case's point of law. 

To view the treatment of a case, click on the Shepardize this document link under the Shepard's® box located on the right panel. This will provide a comprehensive list of treatment, if available.  

Shepard's® provides information such as

• comprehensive report of the cases, statutes, secondary sources
• annotations that cite your authority
• includes more recent cases that rely on your starting case
• Editorial analysis phrases that best fit the citing case within editorial guidelines, helping you make a "good law/bad law" determination

Shepard's® Status Flags