First Time User
- If this is your first time logging into Casemaker, your password is the one that was sent to you in the mail.
- Please enter your attorney number in the "Attorney Number:" box.
- Now enter your password in the "Password:" box.
- Finally, click the "Click to Login" button with your mouse, and you will be logged in to the Casemaker library.
Passwords
Q. Why do you need a password?
A. Your password ensures that any personal information you've given us remains private. It also prevents other people from changing your information in our database. No one else knows your password so we can use it to confirm your identity and take care of your requests.
The first time you login to Casemaker, your password will be the one that was mailed to you. After you first login, you will be given the opportunity to select a new password which is what you will use to login to the web site from then on. You can lookup your password by entering your e-mail address at the bottom of the login page. If you do not have e-mail, contact Sam Clinch at (402) 475-7091 or 1-800-927-0117 or sclinch@nebar.com
FAQ's
Q: What does the Casemaker Web Library do?
A: Casemaker Web Library allows you to search and browse a variety of legal information such as codes, rules and case law through the internet.
Q: Is the Casemaker Web Library free?
A: Use of the Casemaker Web Library is free to all Association members.
Q: How do I get around the fact that some codes and rules are not annotated?
A: With the full text searching capability of the Casemaker Web Library you no longer have to rely on annotations to find out which cases are cited because when you insert a statute into the basic search screen and hit search, you will retrieve the full text of all cases that discuss the code in question. Then you can make your own decision of relevance without relying on the summary of someone who might not even be a law student or lawyer.
Q: Can you use the Casemaker Web Library as a citator?
A: By entering the case or statute, all the cases or statutes requested will be pulled up. You want to first check in the Supreme Court Library to see if it is mentioned and modified in any way. If it has been, you do not have to look further because the decision is binding in all lower courts. Regardless, you can read the decision yourself to find out if it would be pertinent to your case.
Q: What is the minimum number of characters that can be entered as a search term?
A: You must enter at least 2 characters for every search term. The search engine will return an error if you enter one character by itself.
Q: How does the search engine decide the rank of a document?
A: The ranking algorithm takes into consideration relative word ordering, word proximity, database frequency, document frequency, and position in text.
Q: How can I narrow down my search? It is returning too many results?
A: If you are getting too many search results, try:
- Adding some more words to your query.
- Using the exclusion operator (-) to ensure documents retuned don't include unwanted terms.
- If you are searching for a phrase enter it as such (i.e. "bill of sale").
- Changing the Word Forms control to Exact.
- Decreasing the range of the Proximity control (i.e. within 500 characters).
Q: I'm having trouble getting too few results from my searches.
A: If you are getting too few search results, try:
- Reducing the number of words in your query.
- Checking your spelling.
- Increasing the scope of the proximity control.
- Are you searching the correct book?
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Casemaker Navigation Bar
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Sends you back to the Casemaker Web Library home page. |
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Library Contents sends you to the list of all library commands. |
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Formats the current case or code section for printing, taking out all of the Casemaker navigation buttons. |
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Formats the hierarchical list of documents, taking out all of the Casemaker navigation buttons. |
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Formats the current list of search results for printing, taking out all of the Casemaker navigation buttons. This will print only the current page of results you are viewing. |
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Takes you to a section that provides tips and commonly asked questions about the Casemaker Web Library. |
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Places you in browse mode. This mode allows you to scroll through a particular book. |
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Places you in search mode allowing you to use the basic or advanced search functions. |
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Clears all previous searches and allows you to begin a new search within the previously selected book. |
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Allows you to modify an existing search within a selected book. (Ideal when the original search brings up too many results.) |
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Brings you back to your search results. |
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Allows you to move backwards to the previous search result. |
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Allows you to move forward to the next search result. |
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Returns you to the hierarchical view of documents allowing you to quickly navigate to other sections of the book. |
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Allows you to move backwards to the previous document. |
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Allows you to move forward to the next document. |
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Library Contents
The library contents screen is your starting point for conducting legal research using the Casemaker Web Library. Each of the library contents should be considered a book in the Casemaker Web Library. Users can search only one book at a time. To begin your research click on the search or browse button next to the book of your choice.
At the bottom of the contents page is a link to currencies of the individual libraries. Always check this page to determine the dates of the last updates and any state-specific search instructions.
The browsing function allows you to scroll through the contents of a book manually. This function is ideal when reviewing particular areas of the codes or rules.
To browse a particular book, simply click on the browse button next to the library book found on the library contents page. From this point you can navigate through the contents of that book.
Basic Search
The basic search allows you to find a code section or case that best relates to the issues you are researching using the library's search syntax. Simply type in your key words and connect the key words using the search syntax to form your search string.
The example above shows a search string developed by someone trying to find cases that involve the damages next of kin can collect in a wrongful death claim.
For a complete listing of the connectors available on the Casemaker Web Library, click below
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Advanced Search
The advanced search template allows you to search for documents when you already know specific data. For instance, if you have the citation 238 Neb. 354 you can insert it into the citation field and go directly to that exact cite.
Using the advanced search template also allows you to narrow your search by utilizing multiple fields. For instance, if you know a case took place in 1997, in a particular judge's courtroom, you insert that information and your key terms and you will have narrowed your search significantly.
Now lets discuss the individual fields and their use:
Full Document Search Query:
This box or field is the same as the one displayed on the basic search template.
Cite:
This field also has radio buttons associated with it. The buttons are the Official Cite, case name and in some cases a West Reporter Cite. The Cite field has different requirements depending on which radio button is selected.
Official Cite:
The Cite must be entered exactly as it is shown in the library documents.
Example: 238 Neb. 354
Case Name:
This can be any of the terms from the case name. It does not have to be exact although exact will cut down on the number of results found.
Example: If case is Williams v. Monarch Transp
then enter: Williams Monarch
Northwestern Cite:
The Cite must be entered exactly as it is shown in the library documents.
Example: 470 N.W.2d 751 not 470 N.W. 2d 751(no space after N.W.)
The following fields can use any of the normal search logic outlined in the "Search Logic and Syntax" section of the help files. It is not necessary to enter an exact match. Each data set contains it's own term fields.
Original Case:
The court’s docket or case number as opposed to the official cite. Example: 88-1074
Syllabus:
Outline of the case holding, if available.
Example: wrongful death damages
Court:
Example: Sarpy County
Attorney:
Attorneys for the appellant and the appellee.
Example:dunn coffey
Judge:
Presiding or authoring judge.
Example: shanahan
Judges:
Other concurring or dissenting judges.
Example: colwell
ALL BOOKS
Dates:
Must be entered in mm/dd/yyyy format (i.e. 12/12/1996)
To do greater than a date only enter the date in the "From" field.
To do less than a date only enter the date in the "To" field.
Word Forms:
Exact match (check only the exact words as typed), Prefix and Suffix Expansion (check limited alternative word forms) and any word forms (check words using the search engine's vocabulary of word and phrase associations). These options vary from book to book, and may not be available in every book.
You may also use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard suffix root expander by placing the * at the end of your search term without a space (i.e. invite*).
Proximity:
Gives you control over the region that the word matches must be found.
Word – Limit of 2 words.
Within 500 char - matches must be within 500 characters of each other.
Within 1000 char - matches must be within 1000 characters of each other.
Sentence - matches must be in the same sentence.
Document - matches must be in the same document - this is the default.
Result Order:
Controls the sort order of the results. Varies from book to book. In case law it allows you to select most recent or oldest to appear first in the order of results.
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Search Results
Once your search has been conducted, the search results screen will appear. This screen will list the total number of documents found, the effective date or decision date, as well as the individual rank of the result.
The results are typically limited to 100 and will be displayed 10 at a time. It is possible to navigate to the next page of results or directly to a specific page of results by clicking on the hyperlinks at the bottom of the search results page.
The "revise search" button is available at the top of the search results page to allow a refinement of the currently selected search criteria. The "new search" button is also available at the top of the search results page to allow you a quick way to begin a totally new search of your currently selected book.
To access one of your results, simply click on the hypertext link portion of the result.
Viewing Documents (Browse)
Once you have browsed down to the document level in a book you can click on the hypertext links for each document to access it. Once you click on the link and are viewing the document you are presented with new navigation buttons. These navigation buttons facilitate your moving through the documents contained in the book. These buttons can keep you from having to click your back button on your browser to navigate.
You will find three new buttons:
After you have reviewed a document and wish to go back to the list of documents screen, simply click the "back to docs list" button. This will always take you one level up in the book that you are browsing. To get to the next or previous document in the book that you are browsing, simply click the appropriate button on the navigation bar at the top ("previous doc" or "next doc").
Viewing Documents Searched
Once you have clicked on a document link from the search results page you will be taken to the document itself. Matching terms from your search will be highlighted in red. The document may also include hyperlinks to other documents in the Casemaker Web Library. The top navigation bar will indicate which document of your search results you are currently viewing (i.e. Result: 5 or 100).
While viewing a document from your search results the top navigation bar will have some additional buttons. These buttons will allow you to easily find your way through the returned documents.
Two buttons, "next result" and "previous result" are available to move you from document to document in your search results without returning to the search result screen.
The "revise search" button is offered to allow you to revise your search criteria. You will be returned to the search template with your current criteria already entered and selected.
The "new search" button is also available at the top of the search results page to allow you a quick way to begin a totally new search of your currently selected book.
The "back to results" button will return you to the list of results that includes the current document you are viewing. From there you can choose the next document to view or other navigational options.
Note: There are also two additional buttons on the navigation bar. These are the "browse mode" and "search mode" buttons. These buttons are very important because they indicate which mode you are currently engaged in and they work as a toggle switch. By pressing either one you switch back and forth between browse and search mode.
An example of the use of the "browse mode" and "search mode" buttons: If you click on a hyperlink in the document that you are currently viewing you will be taken to the hyperlinked document and you will be moved from search mode to browse mode. Once in this mode you are no longer browsing your search results but browsing the documents as they are laid out in the books. To return to your current search you must click the "search mode" button. You must then click one of the following navigation buttons to return to a document that was considered a match for your current search criteria, "next result" or "previous result".
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Printing Documents
Simply click on the Print Doc icon and the document you are viewing will automatically be formatted for printing. All Casemaker navigation buttons and Web browser graphics will be removed so you have a clean document.
Once your document is formatted, use your Web browser print icon to print your document. After printing click the Back button on your browser to get back to the document and the navigation bar.
Search Logic and Syntax
The Casemaker Web Library search engine uses set logic for queries. Set logic is easier to use and provides more abilities than Boolean searching. See the examples provided below to understand how to do Boolean type searches using set logic.
The Casemaker Web Library search engine will filter out common "Noise" words. "Noise" words include such words as (“and”, “or”, “the”) and these words will be filtered out of your search query. Because of this the keywords and and or should not be used for logical and (include both of the words) and logical or (include either of the words) search operations. Words entered in the query box should be actual search terms you wish to find in the text of the document not operators. Please see examples below for how to use the set logic to specify searches.
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If you type. . . |
The Casemaker Web Library will find documents that. . . |
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include either of the words hit or run |
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include both of the words hit and run |
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include the word hit but not run |
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include the exact phrase hit and run. It will not find the phrase run and hit |
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Finding all the words (Equivalent to an AND) |
- Enter the words into the box separated with a space.
Example: To find any documents with the words proximate and cause, enter: proximate cause |
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Finding several words (Equivalent to an OR) |
- Enter the words into the box in parenthesis, separating the words with a comma.
Example: To find anything related to proximateor cause, enter: (proximate, cause) |
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Finding words (or phrases) exactly as specified in a specific order |
- Use quotation marks (“) to find words exactly as specified in the same order. Phrase searches should not be used unless intended to get the exact text as it can result in miss-hits (i.e. “proximate cause”).
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Invoking Thesaurus Expansion |
- To expand the meaning of a word or phrase within your query, precede it with a '~' (tilde) character. The search engine has a vocabulary of word and phrase associations.
Example: To find documents that relate to alcohol and specifically include the word auto, enter: ~alcohol auto
This will return documents that include the words liquor and auto or alcohol and auto among others. |
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-(minus symbol) - Exclude Words |
- Use - (minus symbol) to exclude any word you do not want to include.
Example: To find a documents about hit and run but not involving death, enter: hit run –death |
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* (asterisk symbol) - Prefix-Suffix Expander |
- This feature can be invoked to include prefixes and/or suffixes for root words. Using an asterisk (*) following the root word will also act as a wildcard and will pick up plurals and other suffixes. Example: invite* will find invite, invites, invitee, etc.
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Narrowing Your Search |
- Search terms must be three characters or greater in length.
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The Reported Number of Items Found is Just an Estimate |
- The result of any search includes an estimated number of items found for the search and the search pages are generated corresponding to this number. In most cases this is equal to the actual number of items. However, in some rare cases (depending on the query) this estimated number and the corresponding pages generated might be different from the actual number.
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Sorting Your Results |
- On the advanced search menu you can use the sort menu to order the document results various ways (i.e. oldest or newest case first).
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