NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchMedium
A paralegal is conducting research for a federal case involving a constitutional law issue. The paralegal needs to find cases from all federal courts of appeals that have interpreted a specific clause of the First Amendment. Which series of reporters would be most appropriate for this research?
- AFederal Supplement (F. Supp.)
- BUnited States Reports (U.S.)
- CFederal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)
- DSupreme Court Reporter (S. Ct.)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Federal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)
The Federal Reporter series (F., F.2d, F.3d) publishes opinions from the U.S. Courts of Appeals, which are the federal intermediate appellate courts, making it the correct source for cases from 'all federal courts of appeals.'
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Federal Supplement (F. Supp.) publishes opinions from the U.S. District Courts (federal trial courts).
- B. United States Reports (U.S.) contains only opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court.
- D. Supreme Court Reporter (S. Ct.) also contains only opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Federal Reporter (F. Series)
A reporter series published by West Publishing that contains opinions from the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
- Includes decisions from all federal circuit courts of appeals
- Organized chronologically by volume
- Essential for researching federal appellate case law
Memory trick: Federal cases climb the ladder: District is Supp, Appeals is F, Supreme is US/S.Ct.