California Public Law Library Briefs Help

Search by Case Name

This search option provides a quick way to find opinions by case name. Complete the following steps to search by case name:

  1. Click By Case Name below the Search heading on the left side of the page. The Search by Case Name template is displayed.
  2. Type all or part of the case name in the Enter Case Name(s) text box.

    Note: Add connectors (e.g., and, or, not) to search terms to conduct multiple-word searches. Search terms and connectors must be separated by spaces. Refer to the following table for examples of using connectors.

    Connectors Examples Results
    and Thomas and McGuire
    Finds case names containing both terms, e.g., Thomas and McGuire
    or
    (default)
    Thomas or McGuire Finds case names containing one or both of the terms, e.g., Thomas or McGuire or both
    but not Thomas but not McGuire Finds case names containing the first term but not the second term, e.g., Thomas but not McGuire
  3. To narrow your search to specific courts or court of appeals districts, select the check box next to the court (e.g., Supreme Court) or division (e.g., First District) you want to search.
  4. Click Search. The search result page is displayed, which includes links to all opinions that match your search.
  5. To view the text of an opinion, click the appropriate link.

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Search by Docket Number

This search option provides a way to find opinions by docket number. Complete the following steps to search by docket number:

  1. Click By Docket Number below the Search heading on the left side of the page. The Search by Docket Number template is displayed.
  2. Type the docket number in the Search for text box.

    Note: Add connectors (e.g., and, or, not) to your search terms to conduct multiple-word searches. Search terms and connectors must be separated by spaces. Refer to the following table for examples of using connectors:

    Connectors Examples Results
    and Miller and Cummins
    Finds documents containing both terms, e.g., Miller and Cummins
    or
    (default)
    Miller or Cummins Finds documents containing one or both of the terms, e.g., Miller or Cummins or both
    but not Miller but not Cummins Finds documents containing the first term but not the second term, e.g., Miller but not Cummins
  3. To narrow your search to specific courts or court of appeals districts, select the check box next to the court (e.g., Supreme Court) or division (e.g., First District) you want to search.
  4. Click Search. The search result page is displayed, which includes links to all opinions that match your search.
  5. To view the text of an opinion, click the appropriate link.

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Search by Date

This search option finds opinions by decision date. Complete the following steps to search by decision date:

  1. Click By Decision Date below the Search heading on the left side of the page. The Search by Decision Date template is displayed.
  2. Select a date using the drop-down lists.
  3. Select the desired date range by clicking the appropriate button (e.g., This date only).
  4. Type your search terms in the Search for text box.

    Note: Add connectors (e.g., and, or, not) to your search terms to conduct multiple-word searches. Search terms and connectors must be separated by spaces. Refer to the following table for examples of using connectors.

    Connectors Examples Results
    and juvenile and felony Finds documents containing both terms, e.g., juvenile and felony
    or
    (default)
    juvenile or felony Finds documents containing one or both of the terms, e.g., juvenile or felony or both
    but not juvenile but not felony Finds documents containing the first term but not the second term, e.g., juvenile but not felony
  5. Click Search. The search result page is displayed, which includes links to all opinions that match your search.
  6. To view the text of an opinion, click the appropriate link.

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Search Result Display

Viewing the Citations List
Browsing Documents

Viewing the Citations List
To view a document in the citations list, click its hypertext link. To return to the citations list from a document, click Cite List at the bottom of the page. To edit or refine your search terms, click Edit Search at the bottom of the citations list.

Browsing Documents
To view the portions of each document that contain your search terms, click the Link to previous search terms Term Link to next search terms arrows in a Terms and Connectors search result.

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Technical Requirements

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