New Mexico State University Library United States Reports (Supreme Court Opinions) Handout

Provides text of opinions decided by the United States Supreme Court. Opinions contain the majority or plurality opinion, and any concurring or dissenting opinions. Supreme Court decisions are cited according to the bound United States Reports volume and page number. An example is Texas v. New Mexico, 492 U.S. 915 where 492 is the volume and 915 is the page number. IF A DISCREPANCY IS FOUND BETWEEN THE OFFICIAL ELECTRONIC AND THE OFFICIAL PRINT VERSIONS OF AN OPINION, THE PRINT VERSION IS CONSIDERED THE OFFICIAL ONE. Slip Opinions override Bench Opinions, Preliminary Prints override Bench and Slip Opinions, and the Bound Volumes override everything. TYPE OF OPINION WHEN AVAILABLE AVAILABLE VERSIONS Bench Opinions Issued the day an opinion is announced. Official versions: Available by subscription only through Project Hermes Slip Opinions Issued electronically several hours after an opinion is announced. Print issued several days later. Official electronic version: United States Supreme Court Opinions Official print version: No longer issued to Depository Libraries Unofficial versions: Legal Information Institute LexisNexis Academic--Legal Research [Library subscription] Preliminary Prints Issued several months after an opinion is issued. Official print version: Official Reports of the Supreme Court (Shelved with DOC REF KF 101.A2) Bound Volumes Issued 1-2 years after an opinion is issued. Official electronic version: United States Supreme Court Opinions Volumes 502 (1991) to present Official print version: United States Reports Volumes 1 (1790) - 289 (1936) (BRANSON Microform KF 101.A2) Volumes 299 (1936) to present (DOC REF KF 101.A2) Unofficial versions: Fedworld Volumes 300 (1937) - 422(1975) Findlaw Volume 150(1893) to present Legal Information Institute Volume 498(1990) to present LexisNexis Academic--Legal Research [Library subscription] Volume 1(1790) to present

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