Federal Case Law Research

Cases are published in sets of books called reporters. Not all cases are reported and published. Because reporters contain cases in a chronological order, cases about different topics may be found next to each other. Therefore, it is necessary to use finding tools to locate cases on a particular topic. To access the links to any of the Westlaw or LexisNexis databases below, a password is needed. (Please note that BU Westlaw and LexisNexis passwords are restricted to Boston University Law School faculty, staff and students.)

Federal Case Law Reporters

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals

  • Federal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)
    Print: Pappas Reading Room
  • Online:
    • Findlaw
    • Cornell’s Legal Information Institute
    • The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts web site provides links to appellate and district court homepages which often post recent decisions
    • LexisNexis: Search through combined databases or through individual databases . Always remember to check the scope of coverage and update schedule for your particular database. Please note that this list is selective.
      • Federal Cases, Combined Courts
      • 1MEGA (1st Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 2MEGA (2nd Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 3MEGA (3rd Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 4MEGA (4th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 5MEGA (5th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 6MEGA (6th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 7MEGA (7th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 8MEGA (8th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 9MEGA (9th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 10MEGA (10th Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • 11MEGA (11th Circuit and Former 5th Circuits, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • DCMEGA (DC Federal and State Cases, Combined)
      • CAFC (Federal Circuit, Federal and State Cases, Combined)
    • Westlaw: Search through combined databases or through individual databases . Always remember to check the scope of coverage and update schedule for your particular database. Please note that this list is selective.

Federal District Courts

  • Federal Supplement (F. Supp., F. Supp. 2d)
    Print: Pappas Reading Room
  • Online:
    • Findlaw
    • The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts web site provides links to appellate and district court homepages which often post recent decisions
    • LexisNexis: Provides separate databases for federal district court cases, by state, as well as in a combined database. Please note that this list is selective.
      • MADIST (Massachusetts Federal District Courts)
    • Westlaw: Please note that this list is selective.
      • DCT (U.S. District Courts Cases)
      • DCT-OLD (U.S. District Court Cases Before 1945)

Federal Case Law Finding Tools

Full-text Online Searching

  • LexisNexis:
    • COURTS (Federal Cases, Combined Courts)
  • Westlaw:

Digests (Print)

  • West’s Supreme Court Digest
    Print: Pappas Reading Room
  • Lawyer’s Edition Supreme Court Digest
    Print: Pappas Reading Room
  • West’s Federal Practice Digest (2d, 3d, 4th series)
    West's Modern Federal Practice Digest
    Print: Pappas Reading Room

Tip: If you know a party’s name, use the Table of Cases volumes found at the end of the digest set.

Digests (Online)

American Law Reports Federal (ALR Fed)

  • Print: Pappas Lower Level
  • Online:
    • LexisNexis: Be sure to check the scope of coverage and update schedule for your particular database.
      • LEDALR (American Law Reports, 2nd - 6th series, ALR Fed, and L. Ed. annotations) (group file)
    • Westlaw : Be sure to check the scope of coverage and update schedule for your particular database.
      • ALR (American Law Reports, 1st-6th series, and ALR Fed) (combined database)


Page maintained by Steve Donweber
Last updated: June 2008