| 1. If you have the name
of the case: |
- Locate Volumes 47 and 48, Table
of Cases, of West's California Digest and Volumes
48 through 53 of West's California Digest, 2nd Series.
These volumes are the indexes to all California Cases.
|
- Look up the case alphabetically, by the first party
in the case. For example, for "Miller v. Jones",
look under Miller. If you do not find the case listed
in the bound Digest volumes, look
in the paper supplements in the back of the volumes of
the digest volumes, second series. They list the cases
through the last calendar year.
|
- When you have located the case in the list, examine
the group of citations given under the name. (If you have
not located your case, go to step 2 below.)
|
- How to read the citations:
Refer to the top of this page to match Titles
and Citations
|
 |
- Each case is printed in three different Titles. For
example look at the following entry:
People
v. Mitchell 61 C2d 353, 38 CalRptr 726, 392 P2d 526
This case is printed in the California Reports Second
Series, West's California Reporter and the Pacific
Reporter. Use the "CalRptr"
citation whenever possible. If you find it in one set,
don't waste your time trying to find it in another set.
It is the same case!
|
| 2. If you have a subject: |
- Locate Volumes #, Descriptive Word Index, of
West's California Digest and Volumes 45 through 47 of
West's California Digest, 2nd Series. These volumes index
the respective digests.
|
- Look up your legal concept and choose the most appropriate
heading. For example, the index will list something like
this:
ACCELERATION
AUTOMOBILES
Tire scream,
speed exhibition, offense. Autos 331
BILLS AND NOTES
|
| Look up the reference in bold
(at the end of the entry) alphabetically - then numerically
- in the digest's previous volumes. Once found, cases related
to the heading are summarized and cited. |
Find the cited cases in the appropriate title
by following the steps listed above.
|
| 3. If you want to find
the cases online, use LexisNexis Academic. |
- Access the library's ReSEARCH Station (http://www.csuchico.edu/library/);
click on Articles & Databases > select LexisNexis Academic.
|
- To find a specific case when you know the citation,
plaintiffs or defendants, use Get a Case on the
database's homepage. Search by the party names or citations
and retrieve cases from any jurisdiction.
|
- Click on "Legal Research" to find other legal information.
|
- To search for California cases by keyword, choose State
Case Law then California. Search by keyword
as you would in any other database.
|
- Whether searching through Get a Case or California
State Law, the results list will include a link to
the full text of the case.
|
|
 |
