Searching for Cases
Click "Case Law Search" in the sidebar to open the database. The search bar at the top lets you search by case name, citation, keyword, or legal topic.
How Search Works
Tip
Start broad. If you search "car search" and get too many results, use filters to narrow it down. If you get too few, try different terms like "vehicle search" or "automobile."
Using Filters
Click "Advanced Filters" below the search bar to expand filtering options. Use these to narrow your results by jurisdiction, court level, date, and more.
Available Filters
Court
Filter by court level (Supreme Court, Federal Appellate, State Supreme, etc.)
Legal Area
Filter by area of law (Search & Seizure, Use of Force, Miranda, etc.)
Amendment
Filter by constitutional amendment (4th, 5th, 6th, 14th, etc.)
Case Type
Filter by case type (All Cases, Landmark Cases only)
State
Filter by state jurisdiction
Year From / Year To
Filter by date range
Sort By
Sort results by Relevance, Newest, Oldest, or Case Name A-Z
Click "Advanced Filters" to expand the filter panel
Select your filters from the dropdowns
Click "Apply Filters" to update results
Click "Clear All Filters" to reset
Example
To find recent Supreme Court cases about vehicle searches: Search "vehicle search", set Court to "Supreme Court", set Year From to "2010", and click Apply Filters.
Reading Search Results
Each case in the results list shows key information at a glance.
What You See in the List
Click anywhere on a case card to open the full case breakdown.
Case Status
Cases can change over time. A higher court might overturn a decision, or later cases might limit how it applies. LawCite tracks this so you know whether a case is still good law.
Status Types
The case is still good law and can be cited as authority. Most cases you'll see are active.
A higher court has explicitly overturned this case. It is no longer valid precedent.
Do not rely on overruled cases. The badge will show which case overruled it.
The case is still valid but has been narrowed in scope by later decisions.
Use with caution. Check the limitations before citing.
The underlying statute was changed, making the ruling obsolete.
The legal reasoning may still be relevant, but verify current statutes.
Later courts have found ways to not apply this case in certain circumstances. The case is still valid, but may not apply to your situation.
How to Check
Non-active cases show a status badge. Hover or click the badge to see details about what changed and which case affected it.
Understanding Case Breakdowns
When you open a case, you'll see a detailed breakdown organized into expandable sections. Each section is designed to give you practical, usable information.
Sections in Every Case
Summary
A plain-language overview of what the case decided and why it matters for law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
Bullet points of the most important things to remember. Quick reference for the field.
Practical Guidance
When the case applies, when it doesn't, and the key requirements courts look for.
Report Considerations
What to document in your reports. What courts look for when reviewing your actions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Errors that get cases thrown out. Each mistake explains why it's problematic and the correct approach.
Key Facts
The factual scenario that led to the court's decision. Helps you compare to your situation.
Key Holdings
The actual legal rules from the case, numbered and clear. These are the standards courts apply.
Jurisdiction
Which amendments apply, which states and circuits this case covers, and whether it's binding or persuasive for you.
Expand and Collapse
Click any section header to expand or collapse it. Use the expand/collapse all buttons at the top right to open or close all sections at once.
Pinning Cases
Pin cases you reference frequently for quick access from the sidebar.
How to Pin a Case
Open any case from the search results
Click the "Pin" button in the top right corner
The case appears in your sidebar under the "Cases" tab
Accessing Pinned Cases
In the sidebar, switch from the "History" tab to the "Cases" tab to see all your pinned cases. Click any pinned case to open it instantly.
Unpinning a Case
Open the case and click the Pin button again to unpin it, or right-click the case in your pinned list and select "Unpin."