Law Library

What is case law?

• Also known as opinions or decisions
• The body of prior judicial decisions that guide judges deciding issues before them.
• Depending on the relationship between the deciding court and the precedent, case law may be binding or merely persuasive.

Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 76.12 (4)(g) Form of Citations.
The citation of Kentucky cases should be in Bluebook style and case names may be italized or underlined. 

For Example:  Haney v. Butler, 990 S.W.2d 611 (Ky. 1999) and Owens v. Williams, 995 S.W.2d 196 (Ky. App. 1997).

• Case Name
• Docket Number
• Deciding Court
• Date of Decision
• Case Summary or Synopsis
• Headnotes
• Names of Counsel
• Author of Opinion, Judge's Name
• Opinion