Beyond Case Reporters: Using Newspapers to Supplement the Legal-Historical Record

Drexel Law Review, Vol. 3, p. 539, 2011

22 Pages Posted: 17 Jun 2010 Last revised: 16 May 2011

See all articles by Jeremy Patrick

Jeremy Patrick

University of Southern Queensland School of Law

Date Written: June 16, 2010

Abstract

Judicial opinions selected for inclusion in case law reporters are only a small fraction of the universe of legal materials that may provide insight into the history of how legal concepts work in practice. This article examines a neglected source of information: newspaper archives, many of which are becoming available in full-text electronic databases. This article argues that newspapers are a valuable supplement and corrective to legal research performed through traditional means. It includes a test case of how research on a discrete legal topic (Canada's prohibition on blasphemous libel) turns up very different results in newspaper archives compared to case reporters.

Keywords: Newspapers, Blasphemy, Blasphemous Libel, Case Reporters

JEL Classification: K10, K40

Suggested Citation

Patrick, Jeremy J., Beyond Case Reporters: Using Newspapers to Supplement the Legal-Historical Record (June 16, 2010). Drexel Law Review, Vol. 3, p. 539, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1625978

Jeremy J. Patrick (Contact Author)

University of Southern Queensland School of Law ( email )

Room Q-416
USQ
Toowoomba, QLD 4350
Australia
+61 7 4631 5374 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://legalheresy.blogspot.com

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
166
Abstract Views
1,251
Rank
324,079
PlumX Metrics