Legal Research

Upcoming Changes to Key Number System

Changes to the Key Number System

On May 12, West plans to release significant changes to the Key Number System. Attorney editors have completed the reclassification of over 500,000 headnotes. The improvements include the following:

A large portion of the topic CRIMINAL LAW has been revised and expanded to account for recent changes in the law relating to the right to counsel, effectiveness of counsel, conduct and argument of either prosecuting attorneys or defense counsel, authentication of evidence, mistrial, regulation of trial, and standards of review on appeal.

Revisions have been made to the topic SENTENCING AND PUNISHMENT relating to application of the Sentencing Guidelines.

Dozens of other areas of the Key Number System have been given minor improvements, particularly in the topics AUTOMOBILES, INNKEEPERS, INSURANCE, and NEGLIGENCE

Changes to the Key Number System do not affect a researcher?s ability to search by a former classification number. West tracks the former Key Number next to the updated classification, so Westlaw can be searched using old or new numbers. Depending upon the total impact on the bound print volumes, the reclassified headnotes may go into the pocket part.

Questions about these changes or Westlaw research in general? Contact the Law Library Reference Office at 612-625-4309 or law-ref@umn.edu.

Source: Tom Duggan, Manager, Librarian Relations, Thomson West Company

Full post as published by LexLibris on May 07, 2008 (boomark / email).