The Goodson Law Library has recently expanded its access to historical content in the ProQuest Supreme Court Insight database, adding U.S. Supreme Court records, briefs, and case histories back to 1933 (expanded from its previous start date of 1975). The Duke University community can now access this nearly half-century of additional materials via the Duke Libraries Catalog or Legal Databases & Links page.
ProQuest Supreme Court Insight provides browse and search capability for U.S. Supreme Court materials. For quick access to a specific case's materials, use Search by Number or select "Supreme Court Case Name" from the Basic or Advanced search menus. A section of Landmark Cases also allows browsing or searching for selected noteworthy cases decided during the coverage period. Results will include petitions for certiorari, briefs, appendices, docket listings, and the Court's final opinion. (Cert petitions are also included in cases where the Court did not grant the petition; the Advanced Search menu allows users to restrict results to only "Heard"/"Denied" cases, if desired.)
Looking for Supreme Court case filings before 1933? The Duke community can also access the database The Making of Modern Law: U.S. Supreme Court Records & Briefs, 1832-1978. Researchers will likely wish to consult this database in addition to ProQuest Supreme Court Insight for case materials from the overlapping time period of 1933-1978, as each may include unique materials for a particular case. For example, both databases contain results for 1L perennial favorite Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938) -- while both databases contain the petition for certiorari and the case briefs, ProQuest includes a scan of the elegantly handwritten docket and Making of Modern Law includes a 555-page transcript of record, neither of which is currently found on the competing resource.
For additional sources of U.S. Supreme Court records and briefs, check out the Law Library’s research guide or Ask a Librarian.
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