NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchEasy
A paralegal is conducting research for a federal case involving a dispute over patent infringement. The paralegal needs to find published opinions from federal appellate courts that address similar issues. Which reporter series would be the most appropriate source for these cases?
- AUnited States Reports (U.S.)
- BFederal Supplement (F. Supp., F. Supp. 2d)
- CSupreme Court Reporter (S. Ct.)
- DFederal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Federal Reporter (F., F.2d, F.3d)
The Federal Reporter series publishes opinions from the U.S. Courts of Appeals, which are federal appellate courts. This makes it the most appropriate source for the paralegal's research needs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. United States Reports contains opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court, not federal appellate courts.
- B. Federal Supplement publishes opinions from U.S. District Courts, which are federal trial courts, not appellate courts.
- C. Supreme Court Reporter also contains opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court, not federal appellate courts.
Federal Reporter
The official reporter series for opinions of the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
- Publishes decisions from federal circuit courts.
- Includes F., F.2d, and F.3d series.
- Essential for federal appellate case law research.
Memory trick: Federal cases follow a path: District, Appeals, Supreme.