2007-02-26 12:20:32 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I'll assume you're talking about citing legal sources when writing documents...
They let the reader know the nature of the legal authority upon which the argument is built. So, if you're citing something based on constitutional law, you cite the US or State Constitution...
Because Appellate Courts and the Supreme Courts interpret statutory and constitutional law for the lower courts, it is essential that we cite those cases, so that we will know the most recent ruling by the highest Court. Make sense?
Without citations, one would have no idea where to start looking for a particular case.. with the citation, one can read the whole case and apply the law as indicated by the ruling.
2007-02-26 12:28:07 · answer #1 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Legal opinions are published in various books. Legal citations help you find the opinion. For example, 184 U.S. 325 means a case can be found in volume 184 of the U.S. Supreme Court opinion books beginning at page 325. When there are a "sting" of citations, like 134 N.M. 325, 54 P.3d 422, it means the same case is in the New Mexico reports and in the regional reports. P.3d means the third series of the Pacific reporting system. If you were in Connecticut, it would be A.2d--the second series of Atlantic reporters. You'd have A., A2d, A3d. Each regional reporter stops at volume 999 and A2d ends and A3d begins. Bet that's clear as mud, but that's what citations are. Just a method of knowing where cases are published.
2007-02-26 12:47:03 · answer #2 · answered by David M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are for when you run out of toilet paper.
2007-02-26 12:27:51 · answer #3 · answered by Tyrone 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
TO NOTIFY YOU---------THAT YOU ARE BEING SUED
2007-02-26 12:25:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋