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Westlaw: Finding Cases

This libguide will help you look up cases using the Westlaw database.

Finding Cases in Westlaw

Getting Started

The library subscribes to the legal database Westlaw which you can use to look up both federal and state cases, statutes, regulations, etc.

Accessing Westlaw

To find the Westlaw database, go to the Library's home page: https://www.cpp.edu/~library/index.shtml.

From the home page, click on "Databases." Click on the "W" to navigate to your database.

 

If you are on-campus, you will be able to access it right away. If you are off-campus, you will be asked to log in with your Bronco name and password.

Westlaw Homepage

This is the Westlaw home page. Here you can use the search bar and enter in the name of the case or the case citation.

A case citation is a formatted system used to identify past case decisions. Although the formats may vary by jurisdiction, they generally contain the same information.

Example: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

An example of a full case citation is:

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)

  • Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka - the name of the case
  • 347 - volume number
  • U.S. - abbreviation of the reporter, in this case, the United States Supreme Court
  • 483 - the page number where the opinion begins
  • 1954 - the year the court came to the decision on the case

You can use either the name of the case (Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka) or the citation (347 U.S. 483). 

Finding the Case

Once you type in your case or case citation, click on the magnifying glass and your search results will generate, listing cases first.

 

Click to access the case.