As a service to our users, we have inserted hypertext links into our documents for all court opinions and for citations to the U.S. Code.  Here is how it works:  If the document being cited is one that we have in our collection (right now, just the N.J. appellate courts and Tax court, the N.J. District Court and OAL decisions will be integrated later) clicking the link will take you straight to that document.  Similarly, links to the U.S. Code will take you straight to the Cornell University's Legal Information Institute's version of the U.S. Code.  If the link is for a court opinion that we do not have, you will be presented with a page that will tell you this, and present you with a link to a site that does have the document.  Right now, all citations to the U.S. Reporter (e.g. 100 U.S. 250) will offer you a link to Findlaw.com's edition of that document.  All other citations will give you a choice of links between Lexis and Westlaw.  In either case, you will not have to do any further searching.  The links provided will get you the document.
 

EXCEPTIONS, EXCLUSIONS, ETC.:

Pinpoint Cites:  Since our system, and the system of many of the places we do or may link to do not have the capability of linking to anything but the first page (i.e. the main citation) of a document, we purposely excluded links on "pinpoint" citations (these are citations to a specific page within an opinion, as opposed to the beginning).  If you want to find an opinion that is refered to by a pinpoint cite, scroll up to find the initial citation for that opinion.  That one should be linked.

Table Decisions and Cert. Denied:  In our effort to be comprehensive in providing links to important documents, we inserted links for all citations our computer could recognize, and created a link to a site that is most likely to have the document.  Occasionally, the site we have linked to mayl not have the document.  This is particularly true in the case of table decisions (where the official reporter has an entry that a decision was made, but there is no published opinion) and in cases where the Supreme Court (New Jersey or U.S.) has denied certification. Before signing on to a commercial, pay-for-access site, make sure that the case you are looking for is not a cert. denied or similar entry.

Errors in our text:  It is our stated policy that we do not amend, edit, or alter the documents we recieve in any way except for formatting to HTML for publication on the Internet.  It is possible that a citation incorrectly typed by the court will result in an erroneous link.  Rutgers takes no responsibility for such incorrect links, or for any incorrect links.  You use these links at your own risk!
 
 

    A word about outside sites.  Rutgers University has no connection with any of the outside sites for which we are providing links.  They are provided as a service to our users so that you may have convenient access to documents you need.  We do not intend these links as an endorsement of these sites, nor do we claim any responsibility for their accuracy or reliability.  If you have a problem with their documents or their site, bring it up with them.  We have chosen the sites we link to based on two criteria:  first is whether it is possible to create a link that will directly access the cited document;  next whether the site allows free access.  At present, most free cites are difficult to create links that allow direct access.  We have found only Findlaw and Lexis to be practical for this purpose.  And, since Findlaw does not charge or restrict access, our preference is to link to them.

    About Lexis and Westlaw:  these are commercial databases that charges fees for access.  They also restrict access to people who have an account with them.  If you click on a link for a Lexis or Westlaw case, the first thing they will do is present you with a sign-on screen.  Type your account ID and last name into the boxes provided.  Then click the button labeled "Sign-On".  You will then be presented with your case.
PLEASE NOTE:  Rutgers University takes no responsibility for any access fees or charges that may accrue to users of Lexis or Lexis Exchange. You Access Lexis and Westlaw at your own risk!  We take no responsibility for incorrect or non-functioning links.

ALSO NOTE:  If you do not have an account with Lexis or Westlaw, you will not be charged for access.  It will just not let you in.

  Finally, please let us know if this works!  We have tried to be as comprehensive as possible.  Some citations are bound to fall through the cracks, however.  If you find a case citation that does not have a link, or has a defective link, please let us know with an e-mail to courtweb@camlaw.rutgers.edu.  You can also sent a message via our comments page.