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Massachusetts Legal Research - Finding and Citing Materials from the Supreme Judicial Court

Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”)

Print Sources

Massachusetts Reports is the official reporter for SJC decisions. Each volume contains a table of cases reported and a subject index. Table 1 in the blue pages of the Bluebook governs citations to opinions of the Massachusetts Reports. Cite to the North Eastern Reporter if therein; otherwise cite to the Massachusetts Reports e.g., 423 Mass. 234. Massachusetts Reports cases can be found using the Massachusetts Digest.

North Eastern Reporter is an unofficial reporter of cases from the Supreme Judicial Court, as well as the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Each volume has a table of cases reported, and a digest to cases reported in the volume. Table 1 in the blue pages of the Bluebook governs citations to opinions in the North Eastern Reporter e.g., 668 N.E. 2d 738. Opinions in the North Eastern Reporter can be found using the Massachusetts Digest.

 

Online Sources

SJC decisions also appear online on Westlaw (1885-present) as well as on Lexis (1786-present). The Social Law Library database also provides an online edition of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Slip Opinions (1924 - present).