Explanation of the Function of Each Part of the Anatomy of The Law Report

Citation:

The citation is the reference to the place or places where the case has been published.
The citation to the case can usually be found at the top of the second page.
This is probably the most important information to identifying and finding the case.

Caption:

The heading of a legal document stating the time and place including the name of the
parties in the case. Generally, the first party is the plaintiff and the second party is the
defendant. Note that as cases are appealed, those parties may reverse positions.

Catchwords:

The catchwords are often italicised and comprise subject terms which describe the
case.
The catchwords are useful in legal research in that you can use these catchwords to
identify the key legal issues and legislation discussed and ruled on in the case.
It can also be used to search for other relevant cases dealing with similar legal issues.
They are of use to researches as an initial indication of what case is about. In the case
where more than one issue is discussed the catchwords are divided into separate
paragraphs.

Headnote:
The headnote is a brief summary of the case. This is divided into paragraphs, providing:

A summary of the applicable law

A summary of any previous court decision being appealed against
A summary of the main arguments made by the parties lawyers
What the Court has held
Any other comments made by judges
Reference to any specific case being overruled, followed, upheld or commented upon
A summary of the procedural history of the case

Court:

The name of the court in the law report acted as a reference for future cases.
This appears at the top of the first page, and is abbreviated in the running heads.
The court level will indicate whether the case is an appeal case or not.

Judges:

The names of the judges were stated in the beginning of the law report which decides
the judgement of the case.
Judges plays many roles. They interpret the law, assess the evidence, and control how
hearing and trial unfold in their court room. Judges are impartial decision makers in
the pursuit of justice.
Judges make the decision or reach a conclusion after examining all the factual
evidence presented.

Date of hearing:

This is the date of where an issue of law or fact is tried and evidence is presented.
Sometimes, hearing dates are an optional but obviously useful addition.

Date of judgment:

The full date of judgment is essential both as a matter of record and to avoid confusion
between different cases with similar names or even different decisions in the course of
the same litigation.

Procedural History:

This provides information on the history of the case, usually from what lower court the
case is on appeal.

Judgment:

Name given to the decision of judges where it is only parts of the judgement than can
be said to be the law.
The judgement or opinion contains the ratio (legal principle)

Cases referred to:

The cases referred to is the cases that are being referred in the process of making
decision.

Legislation referred to:

The legislation referred to the Acts, statutory instruments and article of the
Constitution which are considered in the judgment.

Notes:

Short statements of what transpires on the trial of a cause. They are generally made by
the judge and the counsel, for their own satisfaction.

Counsel:

Counsel who represented the parties in the court and in law report it stated the names
of solicitors and firms for both the plaintiff and the defendant.