Law and Gender Commons^™

Updating Resources

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

In order to be certain the law that forms the basis of a legal argument or theory is current, it is crucial to update your research. Different resources use different methods, but a common method for treatises is the pocket part, an insert at the back of a book that contains information from after the date the book was published. Consequently, after reading the relevant entries in the main text of the treatise, the student would have looked at the pocket part to determine if there were any new cases or statutory changes that applied.

Review Resources--Step Two In The Research Process

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

After finding the entry for abortion in the index, the student would then have gone to the volume and page indicated by the index to read the information provided. Studying the information contained in the entries, the student would have taken notes about statutes and cases that would be used to craft a legal analysis. The statutes on point that are listed by the treatise's entry are Florida Statutes § 782.10 and Florida Statutes § 797.01. The entry also names Eggart v. State as a case that discusses when an individual could be charged with a crime for assisting a …

Florida Law And Practice

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

This compendium of Florida law is based on State and Federal decisions arising from Florida Statutes. It is an up to the minute encyclopedia of Florida law and procedure, edited by an exceptionally well qualified and experienced group of Florida lawyers and teachers, who have helped make Florida Law. The text is keyed to Florida publications, practice books and Florida digests.

This document contains limited excerpts from Volume One that apply to the research problem.

Updating Resources

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

Next, the student would check the pocket part to the volume of the Florida Statutes Annotated that they were using for entries on both F.S. § 782.10 and F.S. § 797.01, thereby ensuring that they were seeing the most current information

Florida Statutes Annotated

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

The Attorney General of Florida, pursuant to the legislative mandate expressed in the Act approved May 25, 1939, Laws 1939, c. 19140, has prepared a "revision, compilation and consolidation of all the General Statutes of Florida in force, of a permanent nature" which, by Act approved June 6, 1941, Laws 1941, c. 20719, except as otherwise provided therein, was "adopted and enacted as statute law" under the title of Florida Statutes 1941.

Consult Primary Authorities--Step Three In The Research Process--Case Law

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

The student would also use case law to learn about Florida’s treatment of abortion laws. To read Eggart v. State, using the citation provided by Florida Law and Practice, the student would have gone to volume 25 of the Southern Reporter and opened it to page 527. From the case, they would learn the history of Florida’s antiabortion statute and how it could be used to convict, of manslaughter, anyone who set out to cause a woman to miscarry. The first page of the Eggart case is to the left; the entire case can be found by scrolling …

Florida Reports

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

Some states have official and unofficial case reporter systems. Florida Reports was the official case reporter series that reported the decisions of the Florida Supreme Court from 1846 through 1948 in 160 volumes. When an official reporter exists court rules often require citation to both the official and unofficial reporter.

The Southern Reporter

Research in Virgil Hawkins' World of Print--Historical Print Research Project No. 1: Abortion

Some states have official and unofficial case reporter systems. When an official reporter exists court rules often require citation to both the official and unofficial reporter. The Southern Reporter is the unofficial, regional, reporter series that reports the decisions of the Supreme Courts in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi.