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

法律翻译Howard，在一家顶尖的美国律师事务所担任专职法律翻译，专注翻译各类与信托与财产规划有关的法律文件。