Search Cases By Keyword Search

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Keyword searches are an easy way to find the relevant case law you need.

In the left frame where it says Search Cases, click on Keyword Search.
A new screen will appear.
Place your cursor in the “Keyword” box. Type your keywords with spaces in between them (i.e. contract damages). JuriSearch® will look for these words in any order. If you enter a phrase in quotations (i.e. "search and seizure"), JuriSearch® will look for these exact words in this order.
Let’s conduct a search for forum selection clause which words we will type in the "Keyword" box.
All databases are selected by default.
If you would like to search all three databases, leave Select Database(s) as is. The 2d Series, 3d Series, 4th Series and Daily Opinions will remain highlighted and will be searched.
Otherwise, click on just the databases you would like to search. These databases will remain highlighted. Let’s select 4th Series and Current Cases.
The Display Options are defaulted at Headings with Hits.
The Display Options are defaulted at 10 words around Hits.
When your search is displayed, your search “forum selection clause” will have 10 words around it so that you can see the context of your search.
Click on "Find It!"
A new screen with your Search Results for the 4th Series and Daily Opinions will appear.
Below the Search Results are the Hits.
A Hit is the number of times your search appears in a paragraph or the full text (depending on which option you select). For our sample search, the Hits are the number of times the words forum, selection and clause appear in a paragraph. Hits do not refer to the number of cases.
For the 4th Series Cases there are 103 Hits.
For Daily Opinions, there is 1 Hit.
When you have no Hits, you will receive a message to “Go back and revise your search.”
Below the Search Results is a Results Map. The Results Map shows the number of Hits with each combination of words. A review of the Results Map will show you where you might want to change your search.
To see the results of your search, click on Click Here to View Results.
Let’s view 4th Series Cases so click on Click Here to View Results under “Records with Hits: 103.”
The results of your search will appear in two frames.
On the left is a Table of Contents with a list of cases containing your search. In the right frame is the full case of the first case listed in the Table of Contents.
To view the case in full screen, click on the Document icon in the bottom frame.
To view the Table of Contents in full screen, click on the Table icon in the bottom frame.
The most recent California Supreme Court cases will appear first followed by California Courts of Appeal cases.
If you are reading a case and come across a California case that you want to view, place your cursor directly on the citation of this case. Click the cursor and you will go directly to the case cited. This is a hypertext jump. To return to the original case simply place the cursor on the Back arrow on your browser's toolbar, and you will return to your original case. [Note: This option works only for California cases and U.S. Supreme Court cases.]
In conducting a search, you may also use Full Boolean Connectors (AND, NOT, OR, XOR). For instance, a query may consist of several words with "And", "Or", "Not" as in: contract AND agreement, contract OR agreement, contract NOT agreement, contract XOR agreement.
You may conduct single character Wildcard Searches by placing a question mark on the relevant letter. (I.e. wom?n to find woman or women.)
You may conduct Multiple Character Wildcard Searches by placing an asterisk after a word or partial word. (I.e. work* to find work, worked, workers', workplace, working, etc.)
You may conduct Stem (Word Form) Searches by placing a % after a word. (I.e. run% to find ran, run, running, runs, etc.)
You may conduct Thesaurus (Synonym) Searches by placing a $ after the word. (I.e. murder$ will find cases with murder, killing, assassination, homicide, etc.)
For printing instructions, click here.

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