Finding Briefs

These sample searches illustrate common methods for searching briefs on the LexisNexis® services:

Sample Searches:

The LexisNexis® services also offers: Florida Supreme Court briefs, Tax Court briefs, and Environmental briefs.

Some of these searches use a search method called segment searching.

U.S. Supreme Court Briefs

Use the NUMBER segment to retrieve U.S. Supreme Court briefs when you know the docket number. For example, take the following steps to locate briefs for a case with the docket number 91-744:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the U.S. Supreme Court Briefs: Court Records, Briefs and Filings / Federal & State Briefs, Motions & Pleadings / All Federal and State Pleadings, Combined
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter number ( 91 and 744 ) in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

NOTE:

Docket number formats vary and may have intervening characters, such as cv, civ, cr, and crim, that appear between the first set of numbers and the last set of numbers.

Use the AND connector to find docket numbers that contain these intervening characters.

 

Use a TYPE segment and a NAME segment search to retrieve only the amicus briefs filed in a particular case when you know the parties' names. For example, take the following steps to locate the amicus briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Citizens Against Rent Control v City of Berkeley:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the U.S. Supreme Court Briefs: Cases - U.S. / U.S. Supreme Court Briefs
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter type ( amic** ) and name ( citizens against rent control and berkeley ) in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

NOTE:

Use the TYPE segment to restrict search terms to the portion of the document that identifies the type of brief that has been filed.

Use the asterisk ( * ) to replace an individual letter in a word.

Use unique terms for the case name. Always use the AND connector to join party names in NAME segment searches.

In a NAME segment search, you do not need to include v., vs., or versus.

 

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All Mealey Publications

Use a free-text search to find briefs from a particular case. For example, take the following steps to retrieve briefs from the case, Jeb Bush v. Schiavo:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the All Mealey Publications source: Area of Law - By Topic / Litigation Practice and Procedure / Search News / Legal News / Mealey Publications / All Mealey Publications - Full Text - Plus Court Documents
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter schiavo and brief available in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

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Brief Reporter

Use the JURISDICTION and COUNSEL segments to retrieve federal briefs by the name of the attorney who wrote the brief. For example, take the following steps to locate federal briefs written by Andrew Bridges:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the United States Supreme Court Transcripts: Area of Law - By Topic / Litigation Practice & Procedure / Find Briefs, Motions, Pleadings & Jury Verdicts / Transcripts, Briefs and Motions / Brief Reporter
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click on New Search.
  5. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  6. Enter jurisdiction ( federal ) and counsel ( bridges ) in the search field.
  7. Click Search.

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Newsworthy Litigation Documents

Use the NAME segment to retrieve briefs that relate to a particular party name. For example, take the following steps to locate briefs that relate to a case in which Shamrock Holdings is a party:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the United States Supreme Court Transcripts: Federal Legal - U.S. / Search News / Legal News / Newsworthy Litigation Documents
  4. Click on Continue With Your Search.
  5. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  6. Enter name ( shamrock holdings ) and allcaps ( brief ) in the search field.
  7. Click Search.

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All Federal and State Briefs and Motions, Combined

The source All Federal and State Briefs and Motions, Combined has selected briefs and motions from 2000 to the present.

Use the DOCUMENT-TYPE segment to retrieve a specific type of document. For example, take the following steps to locate briefs filed during October of 2001:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search All Federal and State Briefs and Motions, Combined: Briefs, Motions, Pleadings & Verdicts / Federal & State Briefs, Motions & Pleadings / All Federal and State Briefs and Motions, Combined
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter document-type ( brief ) and date is 10/2001 in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

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Florida Supreme Court Briefs

The source Florida Supreme Court Briefs includes merit briefs for cases granted Certiorari. For example, take the following steps to obtain briefs that relate to the case Bush v. McShane:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the Florida Supreme Court Briefs: Court Records, Briefs and Filings / States Briefs, Motions & Pleadings / Florida / Florida State Supreme Court Briefs
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter name ( bush and mcshane ) in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

NOTE:

Use unique terms for the case name. Always use the AND connector to join party names in NAME segment searches.

In a NAME segment search, you do not need to include v., vs., or versus

 

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Tax Analysts Tax Court Filings

The source Tax Analysts Tax Court Filings provides full text briefs, petitions, and complaints that relate to tax cases. For example, take the following steps to obtain briefs that relate to the Tax Court case Xilinx v. Commissioner:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the Tax Analysts Tax Court Filings: Secondary Legal / Tax Analysts / Tax Analysts Tax Court Filings
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter department ( briefs ) and headline ( xilinx ).
  6. Click Search.

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Environmental Law Reporter Briefs and Pleadings Materials

The source Environmental Law Reporter Briefs and Pleadings Materials provides summaries of briefs and pleadings filed in environmental suits. For example, take the following steps to obtain summaries of briefs that relate to the case Friends of the Crystal River v. United States Environmental Protection Agency:

  1. Click the Search tab.
  2. Click the Legal source tab.
  3. Click the following links in the order listed to search the Environmental Law Reporter Briefs and Pleadings Materials: Area of Law - By Topic / Environment / Search Environmental Reporters & CLE / Environmental Law Report - All Materials / Environmental Law Reporter Briefs and Pleading Materials
    NOTE: Because the LexisNexis® services list some of the most popular sources on the main search page, you can often link to the source you want directly from the Look for a Source box.
  4. Click the Terms and Connectors link if it is not already selected.
  5. Enter name ( friends of crystal river ) in the search field.
  6. Click Search.

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