Find A Case Citations Using Case Names

I. Using a Digest

To locate a case citation using the name of the case, you will need to use a digest. The digest system is a subject classification scheme that acts as an index to reported cases. Each set of digests (outlined below) contains one or more volumes that include a "Table of Cases." These tables are lists of case citations that are arranged alphabetically by the names of the parties. One table is in alphabetical order by the plaintiff's name; some digests also include a second table that is in alphabetical order by the defendant's name. The "Tables of Cases" are updated by pocket parts located within the hardback volume(s) and sometimes by paper supplements. The citations found using the "Table of Cases" will enable you to locate the appropriate case reporter volume and page number where that decision is printed. See How to Find A Case Using A Case Citation, if you need further assistance in locating a case, or ask a reference librarian for assistance.

II. If You Know the Case Name and the Deciding Court

If you know the case name and the federal or state court which decided the case, you can go immediately to the appropriate digest.

A. United States Supreme Court

• United States Supreme Court Digest (West Publishing Co.) KF101.1 W4x — Low Stacks IV — Main Floor
• Supreme Court Digest (Lawyer's Edition) KF101.1 L38 — Low Stacks IV — Main Floor

B. All Federal Courts (U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, District Courts)

• West's Federal Digest 1754 — 1938 KF127.F43x — Main Floor
• West's Modern Federal Practice Digest 1939-1961 KF127.M63x — Main Floor
• West's Federal Practice Digest 2d 1961-1975 KF127.M632x — Main Floor
• West's Federal Practice Digest 3d 1975 — varying dates KF127.M633 — Low Stacks III — Main Floor
• West's Federal Practic Digest 4th [1989-1992] - present KF127.W48 — Low Stacks III — Main Floor

Note: Some U.S. Courts of Appeals, as well as many U.S. District Court decisions, are not published.

C. State Courts

• Individual state digests — state digests are available for: Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Texas. Each of these State Digests, except Illinois, are located with that state's reporters and other materials on the Upper Level North balcony, arranged alphabetically by state (call number range: KFA to KFW).
• The Illinois Digest is located in the Illinois alcove, on the Main Floor near the Reference Area (KFI 1257.I44x).
• Regional digests:
• Atlantic Digest — includes CT, DC, DE, MD, ME, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VT KF135.A71A82x — Main Floor
• North Western Digest — includes ND, SD, IA, MI, MN, NE, WI KF135.N74W4x — Main Floor
• Pacific Digest — includes AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, MT, NV, NM, OK, OR, UT, WA, WY KF135.P21W4 — Main Floor
• South Eastern Digest — includes GA, NC, SC, VA, WV KF135.S61S68x — Main Floor
• The North Eastern, Southern and South Western regional digests are no longer published. See the state digests above for decisions from many of the states formerly covered by these regional digests.

Note: Trial court decisions from state courts are almost never reported.

III. If You Know the Case Name Only

If you know the date when the case was decided, but not the court, use the Decennial Digest (located in back of the Main Floor in the left alcove). Each Decennial Digest covers a particular time period (e.g. Tenth Decennial Digest includes cases reported from 1986-1996) and has one or more "Table of Cases" volumes.

If you do not know the date of the decision, start with West's General Digest (KF141. W44 — also in the left alcove at the rear of the Main Floor). The General Digest volumes (9th series) cover from 1996-current. Every volume has a "Table of Cases"; every tenth volume cumulates these tables. If you cannot find the case you are looking for in the General Digest volumes, then go to the Tenth Decennial Digest. Search for the case in the "Table of Cases" volumes (using either the plaintiff-defendant table or the defendant-plaintiff table). If you do not find the case your are looking for in the Tenth Decennial Digest, work backwards in time through the other Decennial Digests (e.g. Ninth, Eighth, Seventh, etc.).

An alternate approach, particularly useful if the names of the parties are common, is to search for the case by subject using the Decennial Digests. You may also wish to consult Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Names (KF90.S5 — Low Stacks I) to find citations for cases known by popular or topical names.

Please see a reference librarian if you need assistance in locating a case.