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| How
to Fashion a Search Query Using "Free Numbers" |
About This Page
This page shows you how to free number search by
statute, rule or regulation to first find any
potentially relevant judicial
opinions in the database that have construed the
specific items of information that control your searches.
Thereafter, we show you how to find only those opinions
that have construed the controlling item just for
the reason(s) you specify.
What is a "Free Number"
A free number is any number assigned by a governmental
instrumentality to an item of information that is
controlling your search. Free numbers make terrific
search terms because they are so unique. 404(b),
is an example of what we are talking about when we
refer to free numbers.
Use Free Numbers Whenever Possible
A person who enters summary judgment as their
search query is assured of returning an
overwhelming list of diffuse opinions mentioning
summary judgment mostly
for reasons that are irrelevant to the search. In
contrast, the person who is focused, for example,
on the number of the controlling procedural rule
and enters 12(b)(6) as their search term, will
quickly retrieve any relevant matching opinions from the
database in one mouse click.
Computers Read All the Opinions in the Database
As most legal researchers know, West Publishing
really hit on something when they developed the
Key Number System. By binning judicial opinions
in hundreds of different, intuitive categories,
the Key Number System as originally developed was
indispensable because no one had time to read all
of the opinions in the library to find the handful
of opinions they needed.
A computer, however, does read all of the opinions
in a database and presents you with a list of results
that match your search criteria. The more specific
the search criteria, the better. In most instances,
numbers are inherently more unique to a situation
than a series of words. Compusearching is also
easier on the back!
Free Number Searching Quickly Resolves Your
Search to "Yes" or "No"
Your ability to fashion specific search queries
by borrowing these so-called free numbers, will
generate result lists that are so relevant, so
specific and so on-point that you might
have the time to actually read an opinion or two, rather
than slogging through hundreds of irrelevant headnotes.
TheLaw.net Corporation claims no proprietary interest
in free numbers; far from it. Free numbers are publicly
available to anyone and free number searches can
be performed with most any decent database. Take
a look at the sample searches provided below and
see what you think.
How to Find Opinions Using Free Numbers
Federal and state legislatures assign numbers to
laws so they can be codified. For example, there
are essentially three citation formats used by legislatures
when codifying statutes. We briefly list them below,
followed by a sample query for each. On the rest of this
page we provide further explanation and examples
of how to quickly refine a search query so that
you find only those opinions that have construed
the controlling item of information for just the reason(s) you specify.
Title and Section Number Separated by Code
Identifier as in 18 U.S.C. sec. 1344. The query: 18 w/5 1344 will find opinions
that have construed this statute. See below for
more details.
Code Title Followed by Number as in California
Probate Code Section 245. The query: probate code w/5 245 will find
opinions that have construed this statute. See below
for more details.
Unique Numeric Format as in Florida Statute
350.043. This number is so unique that the query 350.043
will find opinions that have construed this
statute.
More Details
The United States Code and the Vermont Statutes
are but two examples of statutory bodies that separate
the title number and section number with a code
identifier.
Examples: 18 U.S.C. sec. 1344 and
12 V.S.A. sec.
401. Several additional states also use this
format for their statutes and regulations.
To find judicial opinions in a database that have
construed a statute following this format you could
enter the full citation as above, or with the section
symbol. Alternatively, we suggest that you sidestep
that tedium by simply entering: 18 w/5 1344 or
12 w/5 401 which simply asks the search engine
to return opinions where the section number appears
within five words of the title number.
A w/5 query is easier to enter than
the full citation and you avoid having to worry
about spacing, dots and section symbols.
Winnow Your Results with Additional Search Terms
If after keeping in mind that the opinion ranked
first on your list of results contains the largest
number of references to your search terms, you still
think you have located an unmanageable number of
judicial opinions, refine your search by adding a
search term that will result in a list of opinions
that have construed the statute only for reasons
you care about.
18 w/5 1344 and false loan application,
for example, will find opinions that have construed the
Federal bank fraud statute in the context of a false
loan application and it will ignore those opinions
involving other conduct that falls within the ambit
of this broadly worded statute.
Occasionally, a free number standing alone will
not be enough to ensure that your search results
are unambiguous. section 245 of the California
Probate Code, for example. Entering 245 will
return documents that contain any reference to 245.
However, entering probate code and 245 and contrary
intention will find any opinions that have construed
this statute for the reason specified. In this example,
the phrase contrary intention is borrowed directly
from the text of the statute.
Numbers that have been assigned to rules also make
terrific search terms. Numbers such as 404(b), for example. 404(b) and limine
is a terrific search query, for example.
If you need assistance structuring search queries
submit a request via TheLaw.net Virtual
Assistant and we will help. |
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