| Revision as of 05:41, 16 September 2010 editPolytheme (talk | contribs)14 edits Removed incorrect discussion of headnotes "created by the Supreme Court" and infringing content.← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:16, 29 October 2010 edit undo189.237.78.65 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| Frequently, headnotes are "value-added" components appended to decisions by the publisher who compiles the decisions of a court for resale. As handed down by the court, a decision or written opinion does not contain headnotes. These are added later by an editor not connected to the court, but who instead works for a legal publishing house. | Frequently, headnotes are "value-added" components appended to decisions by the publisher who compiles the decisions of a court for resale. As handed down by the court, a decision or written opinion does not contain headnotes. These are added later by an editor not connected to the court, but who instead works for a legal publishing house. | ||
| In 1909, the Supreme Court ruled that headnotes have no legal standing and therefore do not set precedent. | |||
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Revision as of 18:16, 29 October 2010
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A headnote is a brief summary of a particular point of law that is added to the text of a court decision to aid readers in locating discussion of a legal issue in an opinion. As the term implies, headnotes appear at the beginning of the published opinion.
Frequently, headnotes are "value-added" components appended to decisions by the publisher who compiles the decisions of a court for resale. As handed down by the court, a decision or written opinion does not contain headnotes. These are added later by an editor not connected to the court, but who instead works for a legal publishing house.
In 1909, the Supreme Court ruled that headnotes have no legal standing and therefore do not set precedent.
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