Chapter 1 The Research Process and Legal Analysis Flashcards

1
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary authority?

A

Primary authority is law produced by government entities with law-making authority. Secondary authority is a source that explains primary authority or helps a legal researcher find it.

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2
Q

Why is secondary authority never mandatory?

A

Secondary authority is never mandatory because it is not created by government entities with law-making authority.

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3
Q

What is an example of primary persuasive authority and why does the resource fall into this category?

A

An example of a primary persuasive authority is a judicial opinion from another jurisdiction. The judicial opinion is primary because it was created by a court with law-making authority, but it is persuasive because it is not from a court in the governing jurisdiction.

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4
Q

What is precedent?

A

Precedent is an earlier relevant judicial opinion.

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5
Q

What is the doctrine of stare decisis?

A

The doctrine of stare decisis requires a court apply existing precedent from that court and any existing precedent from a higher-level court in the same jurisdiction.

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6
Q

What role does precedent play in the doctrine of stare decisis?

A

Precedent plays a central role in the doctrine of stare decisis because it is earlier precedent from certain courts that a current court must apply.

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7
Q

On an issue of Michigan state law, which court’s relevant decisions must a Michigan circuit court follow?

A

On an issue of Michigan state law, a Michigan circuit court must follow relevant decisions from the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court.

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8
Q

Is the United States District Court a federal or state trial court?

A

The United States District Court is a federal trial court.

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9
Q

In Michigan, is there an automatic right of appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court?

A

No. A party must petition the Michigan Supreme Court to hear its appeal.

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10
Q

Explain how a judicial opinion may shrink or grow over time.

A

A judicial opinion may shrink when later courts discuss it and narrow its holding, stating, for example, that it does not apply to the current fact scenario. A judicial opinion may grow when later courts continuously apply it to new situations.

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11
Q

List the hierarchy of legal authority discussed in this chapter.

A

The hierarchy is constitutions, statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, and then judicial opinions.

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