headnote

headnote. A case summary that appears before the printed judicial opinion in a law report, addresses a point of law, and usu. includes the relevant facts bearing on that point of law.

— Also termed syllabus; synopsis; reporter’s syllabus.

“The syllabus or headnote is a brief statement of the propositions of law decided in the case, being in the nature of a table of contents of the case. The modern method is to number each proposition in the syllabus, and to indicate, by corresponding figures, the exact place in the decision where the point mentioned in the syllabus can be found. Sometimes, especially in the older reports, the syllabus is inaccurate or misleading, and it is not safe to rely on it without first verifying it from the decision.” Frank Hall Childs, Where and How to Find the Law 22 (1922).

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词条贡献者

双语律师Akira，国际知名法学院法律专业，擅长翻译各类与地产开发相关的法律文件。