Using Online Databases to Locate
Judicial Decisions
by Annette Demers BA LLB MLIS
Judicial Decisions
Content
Use CanLii to find this source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of
Canada, Refugee Appeal Division
Judicial Decisions
Content
Now use Quicklaw to find it:
Immigration and Refugee Board of
Canada, Refugee Appeal Division
Judicial Decisions
Content
Quicklaw
Canada Immigration and Refugee Board, Refugee
Appeal Division Decisions
COVERAGE: From December 15, 2012 through
current
Judicial Decisions
Content
CanLII
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Continuous coverage from 2004 forward.
Judicial Decisions
Searching
As a student in a firm, you’ll get two main questions:
1. Bring me a copy of this case.
2. Find cases on this topic.
Judicial Decisions
Field Searching
Use CanLii to find:
[1993] 1 SCR 462
Judicial Decisions
Field Searching
Use Quicklaw to find:
[1993] 1 SCR 462
Judicial Decisions
Field Searching
Use Quicklaw to find a copy of the
Ruffolo case. It was heard before
the Ontario Human Rights
Tribunal in 2009.
Judicial Decisions
Unique Terms
Are there any cases where the
Chinese cultural custom of filial piety
was considered in an award for
damages for personal injury?
Key Legal Issues
The client has complained
that she was denied a job
due to racism.
Key Legal Issues
The client has complained
of discrimination on the
basis of race in an application
for employment.
Synonyms
accomplice
accessory
co-conspirator
abettor
Truncation
conspire
conspired
conspir!
conspiring
conspiracy
Algorithm QL
Try it!
Is the exception to the hearsay rule,
known as the co-conspirators'
exception, also known as the “Carter
rule”, still good law? Locate the
Supreme Court case which answers
this question.
Try it!
“co-conspirators' exception” or
“Carter rule”
Precedent
“Literally “to stand by things decided,” stare
decisis is a rule that requires judges to follow or
obey the rulings of other judges higher in the
judicial hierarchy and is similar to the concept of a
binding judicial precedent. When the facts in Case
A are similar to Case B, the judge in Case B must
follow the ruling in Case A if the judge in Case A is
from a higher court in the same jurisdiction.”
Tjaden, Legal Research and Writing, (3rd ed) (Irwin
Law, 2010).
Note Up
In order to understand whether the outcome of a
particular case is still good law, we must
understand:
1. History of the case. Was the decision upheld
on appeal?
2. Cases that have cited the case. Was the
decision upheld in later decisions by higher
levels of court, or was the decision
overturned or modified in some way?
Note Up
Our Online databases provide electronic tools
which help users to see:
1. History of case
2. Cases that have cited other cases (judicial
consideration).
Algorithm
I need you to find any cases
that deal with the constitutionality
of detaining foreign nationals
under a security certificate.
I would like to see in particular
the case that came down in 2006.
Algorithm
constitutional! /s detain!
and “security certificate”
2006
THANK YOU!
Annette Demers
[email protected]
http://www.uwindsor.ca/law/library
Judicial Decisions