United States Reports

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United States Reports

United States Reports is the official series of reported decisions for the Supreme Court of the United States. This series of books contains the final version of the court opinions, including all of the majority opinions, dissenting opinions, and concurring opinions. Additionally, it includes orders and other significant documents. The United States Reports are prepared and published by the Office of the Reporter of Decisions, a part of the Supreme Court. The primary purpose of these reports is to provide a permanent record of the Court's rulings.

History

The practice of reporting the decisions of the Supreme Court dates back to the early 19th century. Initially, reports were prepared by private publishers and individuals, such as Alexander Dallas, who published the first volume of reports, covering decisions from 1790 to 1800. It wasn't until 1875 that the United States Reports became the official record, with the appointment of the first Reporter of Decisions by the Supreme Court.

Format and Citation

The United States Reports are cited by volume number, the abbreviation "U.S." for United States Reports, and the page number where the case begins. For example, a citation in the format "410 U.S. 113" refers to the case starting on page 113 of volume 410 of the United States Reports. This citation method is widely used in legal documents and scholarly works to reference Supreme Court decisions.

Content

Each volume of the United States Reports includes:

• The full text of each Supreme Court decision issued during the term
• Syllabi, which are summaries written by the Reporter of Decisions that precede the official opinions
• A table of the names of the cases reported
• Indexes and tables that assist in research, including a table of laws and rules cited

Access and Availability

While the United States Reports are available in print, they are also accessible online through various legal research databases and the official Supreme Court website. This ensures that the public and legal professionals have access to the Court's decisions.

Importance

The United States Reports serve as a crucial resource for lawyers, judges, scholars, and students of law. They provide authoritative records of the legal principles and precedents established by the Supreme Court, which are essential for legal research, education, and practice in the United States.