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Librarian
Jim Gillispie,
Social Science Librarian for Public Health, Economics, Government Information
Email: jeg@jhu.edu
Phone: 410-516-8435
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Electronic Case Law Sources
FEDERAL & STATE-LEVEL COURT CASES:
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Westlaw
Your search will be the most precise if you search for a particular case by citation - e.g. 411 Md. 629. If you have the party names, you will also get to your results quicker, but may see more than one result (original case, appeals, remanded decisions).
Other Historical Case Law Sources
Making of Modern Law: U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 1832 - 1978
Containing nearly 11 million pages of records and briefs brought before the U.S. Supreme Court in the period 1832-1978, this resource provides an essential primary source tool for the study of all aspects of American history as well as the U.S. judicial system.
Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600 - 1926
Based on holdings of the law libraries of Harvard and Yale, and the Library of the Bar of the City of New York, the product offers online access to these important collections.
Original Court Documents
PACER
PACER is the federal courts public access to their electronic records archive. https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ Availability of retrospective scanned documents in PACER varies from court to court. PACER’s access, and “pay as you go” design is set up for individual accounts. PACER does not offer library subscriptions that would permit us to offer access like we do for other databases.
Court Documents in Westlaw, Nexis Uni and Bloomberg Law
Some cases found in Westlaw, Nexis Uni, and Bloomberg Law include selected court docket items associated with that reported case. Access to those documents varies depending on the database. For example:
- In Westlaw selected court docket items will be listed via the “Citing References” Tab. However, many items will appear with the notation “Out of Plan” banner. Westlaw does not make these items available via our academic subscription.
- In Nexis Uni some court docket items will be available via the “Court Filings” category.
- In Bloomberg Law some court docket ietms will be available via the "Court Dockets" category.
In many cases, if you need a transcript or wish to view the original court documentation, you may need to contact the court in question (look for the Clerk of Court contact information).