The name of the person who initiated legal action.
Citation tells you how to locate the case.
The Facts
A one-sentence description of the nature of the case, to serve as an introduction.
A statement of the relevant law, with quotation marks or underlining to draw attention to the key words or phrases that are in dispute.
A summary of the complaint (in a civil case) or the indictment plus relevant evidence and arguments presented in court to explain who did what to whom and why the case was thought to involve illegal conduct.
A summary of actions taken by the lower courts, for example: defendant convicted; conviction upheld by appellate court; Supreme Court granted certiorari.
The Issue
When noting issues, it may help to phrase them in terms of questions that can be answered with a precise “yes” or “no.”
What specific legal questions does this case raise?
What more general legal questions does this case raise?
The Decisions or Holding
How did the court answer the issue question(s)? YES or NO
Court’s Reasoning
The reasoning, or rationale, is the chain of argument which led the judges in either a majority or a dissenting opinion to rule as they did. This should be outlined point by point in numbered sentences or paragraphs.
What legal reasoning informed the court’s decision?
What rules of law, for example, did it apply?
How did it interpret legal principles, documents?
How did it construe the facts?
