Basic NJ Government resources for a good public library or a basic academic library. By Paul J. Young Collection Development

The short version… All you need is: All you need is: Judiciary Judiciary Legislative Legislative Executive Executive Links to: Dept. of Treasury, Motor Vehicle, etc. Links to: Dept. of Treasury, Motor Vehicle, etc. Thank you and good night! Thank you and good night!

Legal NJ Lawyers Diary NJ Lawyers Diary Government – All state departments and agencies Government – All state departments and agencies All courts: Federal + State (21 counties) All courts: Federal + State (21 counties) All attorneys by name; by city All attorneys by name; by city Information for all 566 towns! Information for all 566 towns!

Case Law Online – You can use words, descriptive terms, Boolean searches. Expensive! Online – You can use words, descriptive terms, Boolean searches. Expensive! Westlaw – includes indexing Westlaw – includes indexing Lexis/Nexis Academic – hard to find unless you know the case name Lexis/Nexis Academic – hard to find unless you know the case name Print – You need indexes. Not as expensive. Print – You need indexes. Not as expensive. Easier to read the case in front of you Easier to read the case in front of you Easier to cite to the exact page Easier to cite to the exact page

How to look up a case in print West’s NJ Law Finder West’s NJ Law Finder The indexing system to find cases: The indexing system to find cases: By name of party By name of party By subject keyword By subject keyword By description By description

N.J. Case Reporters N.J. (185 volumes) N.J. (185 volumes) Supreme Court cases Supreme Court cases All Supreme Court cases are reported All Supreme Court cases are reported N.J. Super. (383 volumes) N.J. Super. (383 volumes) Appellate Division (three judges) Appellate Division (three judges) Superior Court cases (one judge) Superior Court cases (one judge) Committee decides which cases are published Committee decides which cases are published Atlantic 2d (regional reporter) Atlantic 2d (regional reporter)

Other reporters N.J. Tax Court (since 1981) N.J. Tax Court (since 1981) Slip opinions Slip opinions Written decisions, but not yet published Written decisions, but not yet published Shepard’s Citator Shepard’s Citator Lists all cases in which a case or statue is cited. Lists all cases in which a case or statue is cited. Is case overruled, modified? Did a dissent cite it? Is case overruled, modified? Did a dissent cite it?

Other publications NJ Federal Court Rules; NJ State Court Rules NJ Federal Court Rules; NJ State Court Rules New Jersey Law Journal ($300 yr.) New Jersey Law Journal ($300 yr.) Reports legal news; all cases; employment Reports legal news; all cases; employment A cross between the Star-Ledger and the National Enquirer) A cross between the Star-Ledger and the National Enquirer) New Jersey Lawyer New Jersey Lawyer Same material; more subdued; slightly cheaper Same material; more subdued; slightly cheaper

Helpful general resources Ken Vercammen’s site Ken Vercammen’s site Good overview for general practice items! Good overview for general practice items! Miller, Melville D. You and the Law in New Jersey Miller, Melville D. You and the Law in New Jersey Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick NJ: 2nd ed ($20) Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick NJ: 2nd ed ($20) Covers general issues in NJ: Covers general issues in NJ: Landlord/Tenant, Consumer credit, You and your car Landlord/Tenant, Consumer credit, You and your car

Legislative New Jersey Statutes Annotated (N.J.S.A.) New Jersey Statutes Annotated (N.J.S.A.) Title 2C = Criminal Code Title 2C = Criminal Code Title 39 = Motor Vehicle Title 39 = Motor Vehicle N.J. Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) N.J. Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) Insurance regulations; outdoor smoking Insurance regulations; outdoor smoking

Legislative (continued) Public Laws (+ Legislative Index) Public Laws (+ Legislative Index) Legislative Manual Legislative Manual Legislators Legislators State Department heads State Department heads Salaries Salaries Senate Journal; Minutes of Assembly Senate Journal; Minutes of Assembly Legislative History sheets – sponsors of bills Legislative History sheets – sponsors of bills

Executive (a.k.a.: the Governor’s self-promotion site) (a.k.a.: the Governor’s self-promotion site) NJ Register NJ Register Proposed amendments to laws by state agencies, posted for public comment. Proposed amendments to laws by state agencies, posted for public comment.

Other resources Hood, John. Index of Colonial and State Laws of New Jersey Hood, John. Index of Colonial and State Laws of New Jersey Years 1663 and 1903 Inclusive. Sinnickson Chew & Sons, Camden NJ: 1905 Years 1663 and 1903 Inclusive. Sinnickson Chew & Sons, Camden NJ: 1905 Alphabetical list of Acts by name and category, such as: Alphabetical list of Acts by name and category, such as: Goats Goats Parks and Public Grounds Parks and Public Grounds Pensioners – War of 1812 Pensioners – War of 1812 Axel-Lute, Paul. New Jersey Legal Research Handbook Axel-Lute, Paul. New Jersey Legal Research Handbook New Jersey ICLE, New Brunswick, NJ: 1998 New Jersey ICLE, New Brunswick, NJ: 1998 Quintessential guide to NJ Legal sources Quintessential guide to NJ Legal sources Provides examples of all these resources and many others Provides examples of all these resources and many others