Doing It by the Book – How to Shepardize a Case

Without Using a Computer

Name__________________

RESEARCHING CASELAW: WORKSHEET

Case Name   _________________________________                                                         

US Reporter citation ________________________________                                               

List any parallel citations____________________________________________              

How many justices heard the case?__       How many voted to affirm/dissent?_______       

List the main holdings of the case:                                                                                     

How many citing decisions in Shepards? Break them down by Federal and State courts: _____________                                                                                                                                   

Are there any secondary sources listed for this case?                 If so, list them:

______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                                                                  

Test for validity

(Or is your case still good law?)

Has any part of your case been overturned, distinguished or criticized by a different court?  If so, list the case name, the jurisdiction of the court, the date of the decision and the points of law that are no longer valid:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Based on your findings, is your case still good law?                                                                   

Note if you case has been subjected to one of the above, you DO NOT was to rely on it as authority for anything in court.  Do not give your opponent any more ammunition than they already have at their disposal! 

Assuming that this case is still good law, you can move onto the final test.

Test for persuasiveness

(Or how does your jurisdiction treat your case?)

How many times has your case been mentioned in any court in your jurisdiction?                  

List all of the cases in your jurisdiction which cite your case.  Group the cases by court and treatment type.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Based on your findings, how persuasive would a judge in your jurisdiction find the points of law in this case to be?