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Ohio Secondary Sources Legal Research Guide: Citators

Citators

Citators list subsequent cases that cited the case in question, and whether the subsequent cases overruled, affirmed or discussed the case in question.  Citators also list other primary and secondary sources that cite to the case in questions.

Citators can be used:

(1) to find out how subsequent cases applied the law established in a particular case/statute/regulation or
(2) to make sure a case/statute/regulation is still good law.

Shepard's (LexisAdvance) or Keycite (Westlaw) lists subsequent cases that cited the case in question, and whether the subsequent case overruled, affirmed, or discussed the case in question. Shepards and Keycite lists secondary sources that cite the case in question. Besides cases, you can also shepardize or keycite statutes and regulations.

In order to make sure a case is "still good law", don't stop at Shepard's or Keycite.  It is possible the case is no longer good law, but no subsequent case ever cited that case as overruled.

Thorough research of a question through electronic searches and/or secondary sources should reveal any changes in the law.

Additionally, you should also check the statutes to see if the case was overruled by statute, although Shepards and Keycite often reflect when a case is overruled by statute.

 

How Important are Citators?

Using Keycite to Verify and Expand Your Research

Note that you can find cases in your Keycite results that are from the 10th Dist. Ct. of Appeals by limiting by jurisdiction on the left hand side of the page.

Finding More Authority with Shepards