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LexisNexis Academic Tutorials: How to Shepardize® a Legal Case

Step-by-step guides and tutorials for key features of the LexisNexis Academic database.

IS YOUR CASE STILL GOOD LAW? - HOW TO SHEPARDIZE® A LEGAL CASE

Use the Shepardize® option in LexisNexis Academic to see if a court ruling is still good legal precedent.

Start by finding a case and viewing the full document.  Then follow these steps:

 

(1) Click on the Next Steps pull-down menu in the upper-right side of the screen.

Use the Shepardize® option in LexisNexis Academic to see if a court ruling is still good legal precedent. Start by finding a case and viewing the full document. Then follow these steps: (1) Click on the Next Steps pull-down menu in the upper-right side of the screen

  

(2) Select Shepardize® and click on the blue Go button.

Select Shepardize® and click on the blue Go button.

 

(3) Click on the Restrict By pull-down menu and select All Negative.

Click on the Restrict By pull-down menu and select All Negative.

 

(4) Scroll down to CITING DECISIONS, looking for the phrases listed below:

  • Overruled by: Sets a precedent that the original ruling is no longer to be considered valid law.
     
  • Criticized by: Disagrees with the original ruling, but the court lacks authority to overrule it.
     
  • Distinguished by: Argues that a ruling is valid precedent under one set of facts but not another.
     
  • Limited by: Sets a precedent that a prior ruling applies only in specific, limited circumstances.
     
  • Questioned by: Questions whether a prior ruling is still valid precedent, but does not overrule it.


Scroll down to CITING DECISIONS, looking for the phrases listed below: Overruled by: Sets a precedent that the original ruling is no longer to be considered valid law. Criticized by: Disagrees with the original ruling, but the court lacks authority to overrule it. Distinguished by: Argues that a ruling is valid precedent under one set of facts but not another. Limited by: Sets a precedent that a prior ruling applies only in specific, limited circumstances. Questioned by: Questions whether a prior ruling is still valid precedent, but does not overrule it.

 

  

(5) To read the relevant section of a citing case, click on the page number for each citation.
 

To read the relevant section of a citing case, click on the page number for each citation.

 

(6) Then slowly scroll through the full text to find a highlighted citation to your original case.

Then slowly scroll through the full text to find a highlighted citation to your original case.

 

 

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