Searchable Databases:


At the present time, there are ten searchable databases:

Main Directory:
contains a large database of case opinions from all the circuits on selected topics, including hundreds on Booker / Blakely rulings re: federal sentencing. Follow the directions below to search for Booker - related rulings.
This directory also includes a selection of research outlines, key government documents, a variety of published criminal justice reports and studies pertinent to federal defense.

First Circuit directory
contains all of the published 1st Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete First Circuit research online.

Second Circuit directory
contains all of the published 2d Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Second Circuit research online.

Third Circuit directory
contains all of the published 3d Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Third Circuit research online.

Fourth Circuit directory
contains all of the published 4th Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Fourth Circuit research online.

Fifth Circuit directory
contains all of the published 5th Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Fifth Circuit research online.

Sixth Circuit directory
contains all of the published 6th Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Sixth Circuit research online.

Seventh Circuit directory
contains all of the published 7th Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Seventh Circuit research online.

Eighth Circuit directory
contains all of the published 8th Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1995 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Eighth Circuit research online.

Ninth Circuit directory
contains all of the published 9th Cir. opinions (criminal law, excluding habeas rulings) from January 1990 - September 2005. They all have F.3d citations, as well as "jump cites" within the opinions, thus allowing you to do complete Ninth Circuit research online.


Searching Circuit / District Court Rulings Applying U.S. v. Booker


  1. Under "Directory To Search," select Main Directory
  2. Under "Search Specifications," select "Match ALL words" if you are searching the word, Booker, together with a phrase in quotes. Example: Booker "crack cocaine"
  3. see also the Search Tips In General below


Shepardizing Circuit Opinions:

You can use this search engine to shepardize case opinions in each of the above-listed directories. Just follow these important steps:

  • Under "Directory To Search", select a particular circuit (e.g., Ninth Circuit)
  • Disregard the "Search Specifications" heading;
  • Under "Search Words", type your citation.
  • The citation must be in quotation marks. Example of the correct format: "980 F.2d 1286"
  • There must be a space on both sides of the F.2d or F.3d, as in the example above. Don't do this: "980F.2d1286"
  • Be sure to put a period after the F, as in the example above. Don't do this: "980 F2d 1286"
  • After you have typed the citation in the correct format shown above, click the Search button. A list of cases within that circuit that have cited your case will appear in a list. Click on any of the cases to read them.
  • When you open up any of the listed cases, access the Find function in your browser (in Internet Explorer, it's in the Edit Menu). Type the citation in the Find function exactly as you typed it in the search engine -- but don't use quote marks this time.   Example: 980 F.2d 1286
  • Click the "Find Next" button, and you'll go straight to the place in that opinion where your citation shows up.


Search Tips In General:

These search tips apply equally to all of the above-listed directories.

(1) You can search for OPINIONS THAT CONTAIN MULTIPLE WORDS AND PHRASES.


By way of example: Let's say you want all Ninth Circuit cases that each contain the following words: fraud, bank, check and employee.  Under "Directory To Search," select Ninth Circuit.  Under "Search Specifications", select Match All Words.  Under "Search Words," type:  fraud bank check employee


(2)  You can SEARCH FOR A SPECIFIC PHRASE by using quotation marks. Let's say you want all Ninth Circuit cases that contain the phrase, "obstruction of justice."   Under "Directory To Search," select Ninth Circuit.  Under "Search Specifications", it doesn't matter which option you select because the search engine treats a phrase like a single word.  Under "Search Words," type "obstruction of justice" using the quotation marks.


(3) You can SEARCH FOR A PHRASE TOGETHER WITH A WORD.  Let's say you want all Ninth Circuit cases that contain the phrase, "obstruction of justice" plus the word Probation (e.g., cases where defendants have been hit with the obstruction enhancement for lying to the PO during the presentence interview).  Repeat #2 above: Under "Directory To Search," select Ninth Circuit.  Under "Search Specifications", it doesn't matter which option you select.  Under "Search Words," type "obstruction of justice" using the quotation marks.  Then do a space after the close quotes and type the word Probation, as follows:   "obstruction of justice" probation


(4) You can RUN TWO PHRASES TOGETHER.  Example: "obstruction of justice" "probation officer"


(5) You can EXCLUDE A WORD OR A PHRASE FROM THE SEARCH, so that the opinions you get contain a certain word / phrase but not another word / phrase.  You do this by typing a minus sign right in front of the word or phrase you want to exclude.  Example: you want cases where the defendant gets hit with the obstruction enhancement for lying to the probation officer, but not in situations where he lies about his assets.  Type:   "obstruction of justice" probation -asset
    Or, if you want to exclude the term "financial statement" from the cases, type:  "obstruction of justice" probation -"financial statement"
    Note that the minus sign goes directly in front of the word or phrase you want to exclude.