Generally
Case digests are sources/tools that provide access to cases by subject and by case name. Case digests exist in print form though the "digest" system of finding cases can be used on both Lexis and Westlaw.
Most case digests cover one jurisdiction and contain the headnotes from all of the published/reported cases from that jurisdiction, organized by topic. The digests use a complex hierarchical topical system consisting of broad topics and several layers of subtopics, the most specific of which are usually assigned numbers. Each headnote in a reporter is assigned a broad topic and a numbered subtopic from the digest classification system. As a result, when you find a relevant case in a case reporter, you can see what relevant topic(s) and numbered subtopic(s) are most relevant to your legal research issue and then look up the topic(s)/subtopic(s) in the appropriate digest(s) for your jurisdiction. There, you will find all of the headnotes from that jurisdiction that were assigned the same topic(s) and subtopic(s).
Each case digest also has a case name index, which you can use to find a case citation if you only have the name of the case, as well as a subject index, which you can use to identify relevant digest topics and numbered subtopics for your research issue. Therefore, even if you don't have a case to begin with, you can still use the digest as a tool to locate cases on your issue.
For information about how to use the digest/headnote system on Lexis and Westlaw as well as other online search methods to locate cases, please see the Caselaw Search Techniques section of the UCLA Law Library research guide "Legal Research: An Overview."
Federal Case Digests
- U.S. Supreme Court: The following two digests cover all U.S. Supreme Court cases but not cases from the lower federal courts:
- West’s United States Supreme Court Digest (KF 101.1 U55) (East Reading Room) (UCLA's print subscription discontinued in 2011)
- United States Supreme Court Digest, Lawyer’s Ed. (KF 101.1 D55) (East Reading Room) (UCLA's print subscription discontinued in 2008)
- All federal courts: The following digest sets cover cases from all of the federal courts:
- Federal Digest covers the years to 1939 (KF 127 1754 F3) (Main Reading Room)
- Modern Federal Practice Digest covers 1939 - 1961 (KF 127 1939 M7) (Main Reading Room)
- Federal Practice Digest 2nd, 1961 -1975 (KF 127 1962 W4) (Main Reading Room)
- Federal Practice Digest 3rd, 1975 - 1988 (KF 127 1984 W4) (Main Reading Room)
- Federal Practice Digest 4th, 1989 - 2017 (KF 127 W47 1989) (Main Reading Room) (UCLA's print subscription discontinued in 2017)
