The FindLaw website may be the best comprehensive U.S. legal site, but Cornell is very good for U.S. federal.
If you are uncertain about the difference between statutory, administrative, and case law, go to the Laws of the Land website. A gateway to best sites. Good questions to test your knowledge.
The Meta-Index for U.S. Legal Research is an excellent comprehensive site.
Virtual Legal Search Engines includes more than 500 search engines in 40 categories.
For Supreme Court cases, the LII Supreme Court Collection is an excellent resource.
1. Many judicial decisions are based upon the U.S. Constitution. You have been asked to help a user find a current, annotated version. Create a pool. Select three finalists and nominate one for best. You may select a hard copy version or a digital one.
2. A user is interested in the type of cases from your state that are heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals. First, what can you learn about the appropriate Circuit.
3. You need to help a student with information on "Boy Scouts of America versus Dale [530 U.S. 640]." In which court did the case begin? How long did it take to reach the Supreme Court? Which justices in that Court heard the case? Was the decision unanimous? The FindLaw www site. and the Folio Infobase website may be helpful.
4. You need to learn the names and background of the judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals, {your} Circuit. You might begin with the Judicial Yellow Book [REF KF 8700 .A19J86] or the Judicial Staff Directory [KF 8700 .A19J83. Other helpful sources?
5. Law reviews are often helpful for providing thoughtful interpretations of judicial decisions. A user needs helpful in finding a recent law review article on legal issues involving flag burning. What can you find? Contrast the Legal Periodical Index with the Tarleton Law Library website.
6. A user is looking for a recent federal court decision on whether or not HIV is a disability, but she is not certain of the court level. You might begin with the Cornell University"s Legal Information Institute. Other useful sources?
7. Evaluate the United States Supreme Court sites on usscplus.com and at Oyez Oyez Oyez. Is there an official
U.S. Supreme Court site? How does it compare with these two?
Consider ease of use, amount of information, and quality of
information.
*8. A patron has a reference to two supreme court cases: Madsen v. Women's Health Ctr., 114 S. Ct. 2516, 129 L. Ed. 2d 593 (1994) and Ohio v. Akron Ctr. for Reproductive Health, 497 U.S. 502 (1990). Find the Court's opinion for these cases. Summarize your search strategy and any snags encountered.
9. A local library has hired a library science student as a "trainee." In fact, she does a variety of ordinary library staff tasks. Can "trainees" be paid below the minimum wage because they are not "real" employees? What can you discover?
10. A colleague finds herself answering more legal questions. For example, she has just been asked to find a definition for "negligence" in its legal sense She wants you to recommend a law dictionary. She has heard of Black's Law Dictionary [KF 156.B53 1990], but wonders if it is the best one. Examine at least three legal dictionaries for a definition of "negligence," and make a recommendation. Include comparisons in your report.
11. A patron needs to find information on the Honorable Justice Samuel Alito, Jr., especially on decisions made before he was elevated to the Supreme Court. What can you find?
12. A patron needs the opinions from the case of Allegheny v. ACLU 492 U.S. 573 (1989) . He also needs periodical articles about this case. This might be a good opportunity to become more familiar with Legal Periodicals & Books [UT database] . Briefly summarize your search strategy and comment on the results.
13. A user is interested in legal cases involved repressed memories of child abuse. Is this a matter that has reached federal courts?
15. How many capital punishment cases have reached the Supreme Court in the last ten years?
