CIVIL LIBERTIES DOCKET
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CITATIONS The standard method of legal citation is to place the volume number before the name of the publication or report, followed by the page number within the volume. E.g., volume 388 United States Supreme Court Reports page 2 is cited as 388 US 2. Titles of cases in the DOCKET are not always given as in the official reports. E.g., in criminal cases the name of the state has been substituted for "People," "State," or "Commonwealth." When there are many plaintiffs or defendants, only one name has been used.
Federal Citations
The majority of cases filed in federal courts start in US District Courts, such as the Southern District of New York (SD NY) (where there is more than one District Court in the state), or in the District Court for the District of Columbia (DC DC), (where the state or jurisdiction has only one District Court). Within a District there may be a Division, such as the Eastern Division of the Middle District of Alabama (MD Ala, E Div).
Decisions in District Court cases are reported in the Federal Supplement, FSupp. Some cases go directly from 3-judge federal District Courts to the US Supreme Court. (See cases at 74).
Federal cases may be appealed from US District Courts to US Courts of Appeals in 11 Circuits, such as the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (CA 5). Decisions are reported in Federal Reporter, Second Series, F2d. Some cases go directly from administrative agencies to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (CA DC).
Federal cases may go to the US Supreme Court (USSC) from 3-judge federal courts or US Courts of Appeals. When the US Supreme Court agrees to hear a case, it either grants a petition for certiorari (cert granted or cg) or notes probable jurisdiction (prob juris noted or pjn). When the US Supreme Court declines to hear a case, it either denies a petition for certiorari (cert denied or cd) or dismisses an appeal (app dism'd). US Supreme Court opinions are reported in the US Supreme Court Reports (US), the Supreme Court Reporter (SCt), and US Law Week (LW).
When an appellate court reverses a lower court opinion, it may also remand the case for further proceedings in conformity with the opinion (rev & rem).
State Citations
The several states have different numbers of appellate courts. The names of the courts also vary. In many states there are three levels: county courts of general jurisdiction called Circuit Courts (Cir Cts); intermediate appellate courts, District Courts of Appeals (DCA or Ct of App); highest appellate court, State Supreme Courts (Sup Ct). Variations: Ohio has County Courts of Common Pleas (Com Pleas). California has County Superior Courts (Super Ct). New York has County Supreme Courts (Sup Ct), and its highest court is the New York Court of Appeals (Ct of App). Also in New York there are intermediate appellate courts, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (Sup Ct, App Div).
Some states have trial courts with criminal jurisdiction only. These are often called Municipal Courts (Muni Ct), City Courts (City Ct), Justice Courts (Justice Ct) or Recorder's Courts (Recorder's Ct). Texas has as its highest criminal appellate court the Court of Criminal Appeals (Ct of Crim App).
State cases are reported in regional reporters: Atlantic Reporter, Second Series (A2d), NE2d, NW2d, So2d, SE2d, SW2d, P2d. California cases are reported in the California Reporter (CR) as well as the Pacific Reporter (P2d). California Supreme Court opinions are officially reported in California Reports, Second Series (C2d) and in advance sheets (AC). Intermediate California appellate opinions (DCA) are officially reported in CA2d and in advance sheets (ACA). New York cases are reported in the New York Supplement, Second Series (NYS2d) as well as A2d.
For assistance in finding opinions or law review articles, ask any law librarian.
For other abbreviations, see page xiv.