1. Finding the Law
What is the Law?
“enacted law” -- statutes passed by
law”
Congress/State Legislature
“man-made law” -- cases decided by judges
man- law”
“administrative law” -- regulations promulgated
law”
by agencies
Federal v. State
Federal
statutes passed by Congress
cases decided by federal courts
regulations promulgated by federal agencies
Texas
statutes passed by legislature
cases decided by state courts
regulations promulgated by state agencies
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2. What “law” do I need?
Is it a federal law?
constitutional right (religion/speech/voting),
sex/race/age discrimination, federal taxation,
bankruptcy, copyright, some drug offenses,
immigration
Is it a Texas law?
Texas constitutional right, family law, landlord-
landlord-
tenant law, consumer law, probate, traffic, most
crimes
Federal Statutes
United States Code
Online: http://uscode.house.gov/download/ascii.shtml
http://uscode.house.gov/download/ascii.shtml
Grouped by subject in “Titles”
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3. Also Indexed by Popular Names
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/topn/
Texas Statutes
Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated
Texas Statutes Online
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html
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4. Texas Statutes
Most Texas statutes are grouped by subject in
“codes” (Probate Code, Family Code)
codes”
Each code has a Table of Contents and typically
is subdivided into Titles
The entire set has a detailed index!!!
Title 1: The Marriage
Family Code--
Code--
Relationship
TOC
References
The Statute
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5. US Statutes
Working with Index
USCA & USCS have general index—updated
index—
annually
Index at end of each title—updated when main
title—
volume containing it is updated—except Title 42 in
updated—
USCA—annually; no index in pocket parts
USCA—
Different code version indexes differ—may
differ—
need to look in USCA & USCS
In Print or Online
Look for terms you expect to find in the legislation
Browsing General Index in print more fruitful:
How do you find the penalty for carrying a machine
gun? Ttile 18, Section 922
What are the construction standards for a trailer home
(manufactured home)? Title 42, Section 5401
What are the penalties for tampering with a motor vehicle
odometer? Title 49, Section 32709, 32703...
If researching online, chose links to narrow topic and then type
keywords into “Search” boxes or “Ctrl F” box.
Search” F”
What if you need an early version
of a statute?
USC
Each print edition designed for permanent retention & on
microfiche—Wm. Hein Publishing
microfiche—
Online from 1994 version to present
Archival files in
Westlaw for USCA since 1990
Lexis for USCS since 1992
In print-find public law number in USCA and refer to
print-
Statutes at Large, 108-312
108-
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6. Statutes at Large (Session laws)
Updates for statutes that haven’t made it into
haven’
the code
Statutes that are dispersed in the code
Statutes that don’t get into the code (private &
don’
non-permanent laws)
non-
New laws without reference to code
Verifying accuracy of Titles not reenacted as
positive law (only 23/50 reenacted=“legal
reenacted=“
evidence”)
evidence”
Laws that don’t get in the Code
don’
Session laws not widely accessible online
LOC American Memory website—1st 43
website—
congresses: 1789-1875
1789-
Uncodified public laws
Westlaw back to 1973 (click thru from statute to
session law source)
Lexis back to 1988
GPO Access back to 1995
Before 1973—separate subject index for each
1973—
congress
Legislative History
http://thomas.loc.gov/
http://thomas.loc.gov/
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7. Federal Register
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
Code of Federal Regulations
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/
http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/
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8. Texas Legislature Online
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
Federal Procedure Rules govern the conduct of all
civil actions brought in Federal district courts.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/index.html
http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/index.html
Case Law
Cases are binding precedent upon future parties
and situations
Some cases deal with “common law” issues
law”
found only in case law.
Some cases explain statutes -- how a statute is
applied to a situation, what certain terms in a
statute mean
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9. Where do I find cases?
State and federal cases
are published in
“Reporters.”
Reporters.”
Reporters compile cases
chronologically, not by
topic
An index, called a
“digest” will lead you to
digest”
cases based on a topic
Digest to all Federal Cases
Contains summaries of cases from all federal
courts
Texas Digest
Contains summaries of cases from the state
courts AND federal courts within Texas
Look up topics (“Wills” or “Contracts”)
(“Wills” Contracts”
Choose between subtopics (“handwritten wills”)
(“ wills”
Until you find cases you need (Wills/handwritten
wills/witness unnecessary)
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10. Federal Cases
Federal courts are divided into three levels
U.S. District Courts (trial level)
E.g., Southern District of Texas
U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal (appellate level)
E.g., 5th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court (court of last resort)
U.S. Supreme Court Cases
Supreme Court Reporter
Online: http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html
or
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/opinions.html
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/opinions.html
U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal
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11. Federal Circuit Court Cases
Federal Reporter
Online: http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov
Federal District Court Cases
Federal Supplement
Online: http://www.txs.uscourts.gov
http://www.txs.uscourts.gov
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12. Southwestern Reporter--publishes
TX, AK, MO, TN, KY cases
Cases decided by the following state
courts are available on the Internet
Texas Supreme Court (civil cases)
http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesear
http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesear
ch.asp
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (criminal cases)
http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesearch.as
http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesearch.as
p
14th Court of Appeals (Houston-area appellate court)
(Houston-
http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/
1st Court of Appeals (Houston-area appellate court)
(Houston-
http://www.1stcoa.courts.state.tx.us/
Law blogs focus on one niche of the law or
jurisdiction
http://texaslaw.blogspot.com/ (monitors Texas
http://texaslaw.blogspot.com/
law and politics)
http://www.immigration-law-answers-
http://www.immigration- law- answers-
blog.com/ (Immigration Law & questions)
http://www.chrislawyer.blogspot.com/ (Texas
Family Law)
http://www.texasdefenselaw.com/recent_news
/ (Texas Criminal Law)
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13. Other Helpful Internet Sites
Information covering all levels of federal courts
http://www.uscourts.gov/
http://www.uscourts.gov/
Federal Laws & Regulations
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Laws.shtml
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Laws.shtml
Markets do-it-yourself legal resources
do- it-
www.nolo.com
Houston Code of Ordinances
http://www.houstontx.gov/codes/
http://www.houstontx.gov/codes/
Websites for Local Services
Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority
of Harris County
http://www.mhmraharris.org/
http://www.mhmraharris.org/
Harris County Child Protective Services
http://www.hc-ps.org/
http://www.hc- ps.org/
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
http://www.ehvlp.org/home/default.aspx
http://www.ehvlp.org/home/default.aspx
More Local Sites
Harris County District Attorney General’s Office:
General’
Clerk’s Office
Clerk’ Child Support Division
Physical Address 713-974-4876
713- 974-
201 Caroline, Suite 4651 http://www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/
parents/faq.shtml
Houston, Texas 77002
Legal Aid to Victims of
713-755-5734
713- 755-
Domestic Abuse
http://www.hcdistrictclerk.com
713-224-9911
713- 224-
/Home/Home.aspx
http://www.avda-
http://www.avda-
Lonestar Legal Foundation
tx.org/index.htm
713-652-5911
713- 652-
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14. University of Houston Law Center
O’Quinn Law Library Operating Hours
12 Law Library Weekdays: 7:30 am –
Midnight
Houston Texas 77204
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. –
(713) 743-2300
743-
7:00 p.m.
Sundays: 9:00 a.m. –
11:00 p.m.
South Texas College of Law
Fred Parks Law Library Operating Hours
1303 San Jacinto Street Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. –
6:00 p.m.
Houston, Texas 77002
Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. –
(713) 646-1711
646-
6:00 p.m.
Sundays: 10:00 a.m. –
6:00 p.m.
Texas Southern University
Thurgood Marshall School Operating Hours
of Law Library Mon-Thurs: 7:00 a.m. –
Mon-
Midnight.
3100 Cleburne St. Fridays: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00
p.m.
Houston, Texas 77004
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. –
(713) 313-7125
313-
10:00 p.m.
Sundays: noon –
midnight
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15. Harris County Law Library
Harris County Law Library Operating Hours
1019 Congress Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. –
8:00 p.m.
Houston, TX 77002
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. –
5:00 p.m.
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