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CCJ 450c - Library Guide (Schehr)

Searching Nexis

Nexis Uni allows for plain language searches, similar to using internet search engines, or Boolean searches (and/or/not and proximity operators). 

A natural language search is the best approach for finding a few highly relevant documents. Use Boolean searches for precision, when you are seeking an exact match to your search terms or a precise combination of topics/terms. 

Federal Rules of Evidence

In Nexis Uni, the Federal Rules of Evidence (as well as other sections including the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) are contained within the USCS Federal Rules Annotated.  

To access the USCS Federal Rules, start at the Nexis Uni homepage, click on Menu at the top of the page. Next, from the drop down menu select All Sources.  In the "Search Within" search box type: USCS Federal Rules Annotated.  Then access the Table of Contents which is to the far right of the title of the source.  

Research Help

Legal databases

Try the Get a Doc assistance link below the search box, and enter the party names.  Make sure your spelling of the party names is correct.

Google Scholar is a non-legal resource but offers a quick way to access citations for some legal and government documents that are available online. 

Shepardize - definition

To Shepardize a citation is to ascertain the subsequent treatment of a legal decision, thus putting its precedential value in a complete context. The term originates from the common historical use of Shepard’s Citation Service to track the treatment of specific decisions. The importance of Shepardizing was highlighted to a national audience during an oral argument in the trial of O.J. Simpson. 

[by the Wex Definitions Team]

Shepard's® - citator system

The Shepard's® Citations Service available in Nexis Uni® provides a comprehensive report of the cases, statutes, secondary sources, and annotations that cite your authority, including more recent cases that rely on your starting case. When researching and citing cases, make sure the case is valid and citable. By Shepardizing a case, you can determine whether the case is still "good law."

Search Tip:

To Shepardize a case or document:

Type shep followed by a colon (:) in the Search box, followed by the document citation. For example:

shep: 118 us 356

Click Search.

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