Description: Text of the official opinions
from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the highest court in the
state, appears in print in Massachusetts Reports. Opinions from the
current month only at Office of
the Reporter of Decisions. LexisNexis
(short filename MASS:MASS) and Westlaw
(database MA-CS) go back to 1804. Social
Law Library (Massachusetts Substantive Law Library database) goes
back to 1930. Decisions also available free through Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly from
1999 to date, and from 1993 to
date (Law School only).
Description: Text of the official opinions
from the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the state's appellate level court,
appear in Massachusetts Appeals Court Reports. Opinions from the
current month only are available at Office of Reporter of Decisions;
also available free through Massachusetts
Lawyers Weekly from 1999 to date, and from 1993 to
date (Law School only). Opinions from the inception of the court in
1972 to date are available from LexisNexis
(short name MASS;APP), Social
Law Library (Massachusetts Substantive Law Library database), and Westlaw (database MA-CS).
Description: The state's superior court
functions as both a trial court and, in some instances, an appeals
court. Jurisdiction information is available on the court's
web page. Most opinions are not reported, but some back to 1986 may
be found at LexisNexis (short
filename MASS;SUPER), Social
Law Library - Massachusetts Substantive Law Library database from
1997 - present (Business Litigation Session, October 2000 - present),
and Westlaw (database MA-CS) from
1993-present.
Description: The state's appellate division of
the District Court hears appeals from cases in the District Court; it
is a separate entity from the Appeals Court. Text of those published
opinions from the Appellate Division of the District Court appear in
print in the Decisions of the Appellate Division of the District Court
and the Boston Municipal Court. Some additional cases available from LexisNexis (short filename
MASS;MAAPDV) and Westlaw (database
MA-CS).
Description: For information on the court's
jurisdiction see the Housing
Court's web page. Text of selected opinions from Housing Court
divisions available at Social
Law Library (Massachusetts Substantive Law Library database.)
Description: For information on the court's
jurisdiction see the Land
Court's web page. Opinions are available from Social
Law Library through Massachusetts Substantive Law Library database
from 1990 - present, and on Westlaw
from 2003 - present (database MA-CS)
Description: The Massachusetts Court Rules
include all procedural rules from Trial Courts and appellate court
levels. LexisNexis (short file
name MASS;MARULE), Social
Law Library - Massachusetts Substantive Law Library database, Westlaw (database MA-RULES).
Description: Westlaw
offers selected coverage of Supreme Judicial Court briefs from 1990 -
present (database MA-BRIEFS). Briefs from Supreme Judicial Court
available in Boston College Law Library's Microform Collection from 1915
- 2004; briefs from Appeals Court available in Boston College Law
Library's Microform Collection from 1972 - 2004.
Description: Live and archived webcasts of
Supreme Judicial Court oral arguments.
Court generally hears arguments in the first week of the month; check
link for schedule.
Description:Docket and Calendar
information for the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court.
Searchable by docket number, party name, attorney name, lower court, and
lower court judge.
