Researching the Law FAQs
A: Click to find local rules of court.
A: For California:
- The California State Constitution
- Click to search California codes. If you know the code section you are looking for, you can put a check in the box next to the appropriate code name and type the section number into the search box at the bottom of the screen.
- Click to search the California Code of Regulations.
For federal laws:
- The U.S. Constitution
- The U.S. Code
- The Code of Federal Regulations
A: Click to find the complete rules of court.
A: Click to search published opinions by California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court.
A: The Court of Appeal districts have self-help manuals with sample briefs you can use to guide you. Click on the appropriate appellate district below to get more information.
In addition, four law libraries in California serve as depositories for appellate briefs. Their collection holdings vary. Please contact the libraries for information about their briefs, including years covered and format. Each library's website provides information about location, hours of service, and telephone numbers.
A: The federal court system includes the Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. Courts of Appeals, U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts.
Click for U.S. Supreme Court opinions.
The U.S. Courts of Appeals consist of 11 circuit courts in addition to the District of Columbia Circuit and the Federal Circuit. California is in the Ninth Circuit along with Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Click for information about and opinions issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. For information about the other circuits, you can go to your local public law library or use the Ask a Law Librarian service.
California is divided into four U.S. District Court jurisdictions: the Northern District, Eastern District, Central District, and Southern District. Click for opinions and other information from the Central District, Eastern District, Northern District, and Southern District. You can also access opinions in federal courts using the Villanova University School of Law federal case locator.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in California are also divided into the Northern District, Eastern District, Central District, and Southern District. Each district has information online including opinions for the bankruptcy courts. Click on the district for which you want the information.