Visualizing the Topic Space of the United States Supreme Court · (Number of Cases they appear in...

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Visualizing the Topic Space of the United States Supreme Court

SLIS

Peter A. Hook, J.D., M.S.L.I.S.Electronic Services LibrarianIndiana University School of Law—BloomingtonDoctoral Student, School of Library and Information Sciencehttp://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~pahookJune 25, 2007, ISSI 2007Madrid, Spain

Impact of the Legal Information Infrastructure

Frank Shepard’s Legal Citators

Illinois Citations, (1875)

Gene Garfield’s Citators

(1950’s)

Inspired Page and Brin’s PageRank

Relevance Algorithm which powers Google

(1996)

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Relational Infrastructure of the Law (Topic Assignments)

Research Question

• Question: What are the topical adjacencies of subjects addressed by the United States Supreme Court based on the co-occurrence of top level topics assigned by West Publishing?

Goal: To create a rigorous substrate mapon which to layer 60 years worth of data.

• Techniques: Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Multidimensional Scaling (MDS)

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About the Dataset• Co-occurrence counts of topics

assigned by West Publishing to United States Supreme Court cases

• October 1944 - July 2005

• 7,948 unique cases

• 19,789 topic assignments

• 405 top level topics in the West taxonomy

• 290 appear in Supreme Court cases during this time period.

• 289 co-occur with other topics (all but Reference)

• 3743 unique topic pairings (out of a possible 83,521 (289 * 289))

• Sparse matrix

356 Slaves356 k24 k. Abolition of Slavery; Peonage.

Record contained sufficient evidence of physical or legal coercion to support conviction for holding mentally retarded men on farm in involuntary servitude and conspiring to interfere with their Thirteenth Amendment right to be free from involuntary servitude.

91 Conspiracy91II Criminal Responsibility

91II(A) Offenses91k29.5 Conspiracy Against Exercise of Civil Rights

91k29.5(2) k. Rights or Privileges Involved.(Formerly 91k29.6)

Statute prohibiting conspiracy to interfere with right secured by Constitution or laws of United States incorporates prohibition of involuntary servitude contained in Thirteenth Amendment.

U.S. v. Kozminski,487 U.S. 931 (U.S. Mich., 1988).

361 Statutes 110 Criminal Law

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Top 40 Topics(Number of Cases they appear in out of 7,948 total)

3032 Federal Courts2294 Constitutional Law1231 Criminal Law785 Statutes564 Labor Relations526 States510 Commerce488 Courts447 Federal Civil Procedure432 United States420 Civil Rights398 Internal Revenue378 Habeas Corpus370 Administrative Law and Procedure262 Monopolies261 Sentencing and Punishment239 Searches and Seizures200 Witnesses192 Taxation184 Judgment

169 Jury164 Injunction153 Elections144 Armed Services140 Aliens135 Bankruptcy134 Schools131 Arrest131 Double Jeopardy122 Eminent Domain120 Municipal Corporations119 Indians113 Declaratory Judgment110 Action106 Social Security and Public Welfare101 Evidence100 War and National Emergency90 Trade Regulation90 Environmental Law85 Telecommunications

Bottom 40 Topics(Number of Cases they appear in out of 7,948 total)

1 Homestead1 Innkeepers1 Joint Tenancy1 Motions1 Notaries1 Parliamentary Law1 Parties1 Penalties1 Reference1 Sequestration1 Slaves1 Tenancy in Common1 Trover and Conversion1 United States Marshals1 Vendor and Purchaser1 Weights and Measures1 Wharves1 Wills1 Woods and Forests1 Urban Railroads

2 Chemical Dependents1 Accord and Satisfaction1 Account1 Account, Action on1 Assumpsit, Action of1 Asylums1 Bigamy1 Bonds1 Boundaries1 Cancellation of Instruments1 Cemeteries1 Champerty and Maintenance1 Clubs1 Deposits in Court1 Dower and Curtesy1 Easements1 Explosives1 False Pretenses1 Forgery1 Good Will

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Color Code:1. Persons2. Property3. Contracts4. Torts5. Crimes6. Remedies7. Government

Node Size ~ Number of times topic appears in the dataset

Node Color ~ West Category

This is an enlargement of the area around the Criminal Law node. Interestingly, the node closely clusters with a number of procedural topics (in green). While grouped in different West categories (blue = Crimes, green = Remedies), it appears that Criminal Law more closely relates to some Remedies topics than Crimes topics.

Previous Work (2004) – Pajek Rendering of the Dataset

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-0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Dimension 2

Dim

ensi

on 1

Abatement/Revival

Abortion/Birth Control

Accord/Satisfaction

Account

Account, Action on

Accountants

Action

Administrative Law/Procedure

AdmiraltyAdoption

Adverse Possession

AgricultureAliens

Amicus Curiae

Animals

Annuities

Appeal/Error

Arbitration

Armed Services

Arrest

Arson

Assault/Battery

Assignments

Associations

Assumpsit, Action of

Asylums

Attachment

Attorney/Client

Attorney GeneralAutomobilesAviation

Bail

Bankruptcy

Banks/Banking

Bigamy

Bills/Notes

Bonds

Boundaries

Breach of the Peace

Bribery

Building/Loan Associations

Canals

Cancellation of Instruments

Carriers

CemeteriesCensus

CertiorariChamperty/Maintenance

Charities

Chemical Depende

Child Custody

Child Support

Children Out-Of-Wedlock

CitizensCivil Rights Clerks of Courts

Clubs

Colleges/Universities

Collision

Commerce

Commodity Futures Trading Regulation

Common Law

Compromise/Settlement

Conspiracy

Constitutional Law

Consumer CreditConsumer Protection

Contempt

Contracts

Contribution

Controlled SubstancesConvicts

Copyrights/Intellectual Property

Corporations

Costs

Counties

Courts

Covenants

Criminal Law

Customs/Usages

Customs Duties

DamagesDeath

Debtor/Creditor

Declaratory Judgment

Deposits in Court

Descent/Distribution

Disorderly Conduct

District/Prosecuting Attorneys

District of Columbia

Divorce

Domicile

Double Jeopardy

Dower/Curtesy

Easements

Election of Remedies

Elections

Electricity

Embezzlement

Eminent Domain

Employers Liability

Environmental Law

Equity

Escape

Escheat

Estates in Property

EstoppelEvidence

Exchanges

Execution

Executors/Administrators

Exemptions

Explosives

Extortion/Threats

Extradition/Detainers

Factors False Imprisonment

False Pretenses

Federal Civil Procedure

Federal Courts

Fines

Fires

Fish

Food

Forcible Entry/Detainer

Forfeitures

Forgery

Fraud

Game

Gaming

Garnishment

Gas

Gifts

Good Will

Grand Jury

Guardian/Ward

Habeas CorpusHawkers/Peddlers

Health

Highways

Homestead

Homicide

Husband/Wife

Implied/Constructive Contracts

Indemnity

Indians

Indictment/Information

InfantsInjunction

Innkeepers

Inspection

Insurance Insurrection/Sedition

Interest

Internal RevenueInternational Law

Interpleader

Intoxicating Liquors

Joint Tenancy

Judges

JudgmentJury

Kidnapping

Labor Relations

Landlord/Tenant

Larceny

Levees/Flood Control

Libel/Slander

Licenses

Liens

Limitation of Actions

Lotteries

Malicious Prosecution

Mandamus

Marriage

Master/Servant

Mechanics Liens

Mental Health

Military Justice

Militia

Mines/Minerals

Monopolies

Mortgages

Motions

Municipal Corporations

Navigable Waters

Negligence

New Trial

Newspapers

Notaries

Notice

Nuisance

Oath

Obscenity

Obstructing Justice

Officers/Public EmployeesPardon/Parole

Parent/Child

Parliamentary Law

Parties

Partnership

Patents

Payment

Penalties

PensionsPerjury

Pilots

Pleading

Postal Service

Pretrial Procedure

Principal/Agent

Principal/Surety

Prisons

Process

Products Liability Prohibition

Property

Prostitution

Public Contracts

Public Lands

Public Utilities

Quieting Title

RICO

Railroads

Rape

Receivers

Receiving Stolen Goods

Records

Release

Religious Societies

Removal of Cases

Replevin

Robbery

Sales

Schools

Seamen

Searches/Seizures

Secured Transactions

Securities Regulation Sentencing/Punishment

Sequestration

Set-off/Counterclaim

Sheriffs/Constables

Shipping

Slaves

Social Security/Public Welfare

Sodomy

Specific Performance

StatesStatutes

Stipulations

Subrogation

Suicide

Sunday

Taxation

Telecommunications

Tenancy in Common

TerritoriesTheaters/Shows

Time

Torts

Towage

Towns

Trade Regulation

Treason

Treaties

Trespass

Trial

Trover/Conversion

Trusts

United StatesUnited States Magistrates

United States Marshals

Unlawful Assembly

Urban Railroads

Vagrancy

Vendor/Purchaser

Venue

War/National Emergency

Warehousemen

Waters/Water CoursesWeapons

Weights/Measures

Wharves

Wills Witnesses

Woods/Forests

Workers Compensation

Zoning/Planning

Principal Components Analysis

-0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Dimension 2

Dim

ensi

on 1

Abatement/Revival


Accord/Satisfaction

Account

Account, Action on

Accountants

Action


AdmiraltyAdoption

Adverse Possession

AgricultureAliens

Amicus Curiae

Animals

Annuities

Appeal/Error

Arbitration

Armed Services

Arrest

Arson

Assault/Battery

Assignments

Associations


Asylums

Attachment

Attorney/Client


Bail

Bankruptcy

Banks/Banking

Bigamy

Bills/Notes

Bonds

Boundaries

Breach of the Peace

Bribery


Canals


Carriers

CemeteriesCensus


Charities

Chemical Depende

Child Custody

Child Support



Clubs


Collision

Commerce


Common Law


Conspiracy

Constitutional Law


Contempt

Contracts

Contribution



Corporations

Costs

Counties

Courts

Covenants

Criminal Law

Customs/Usages

Customs Duties

DamagesDeath

Debtor/Creditor


Deposits in Court


Disorderly Conduct



Divorce

Domicile

Double Jeopardy

Dower/Curtesy

Easements


Elections

Electricity

Embezzlement

Eminent Domain

Employers Liability

Environmental Law

Equity

Escape

Escheat

Estates in Property

EstoppelEvidence

Exchanges

Execution


Exemptions

Explosives

Extortion/Threats



False Pretenses


Federal Courts

Fines

Fires

Fish

Food


Forfeitures

Forgery

Fraud

Game

Gaming

Garnishment

Gas

Gifts

Good Will

Grand Jury

Guardian/Ward


Health

Highways

Homestead

Homicide

Husband/Wife


Indemnity

Indians


InfantsInjunction

Innkeepers

Inspection


Interest


Interpleader


Joint Tenancy

Judges

JudgmentJury

Kidnapping

Labor Relations

Landlord/Tenant

Larceny


Libel/Slander

Licenses

Liens


Lotteries


Mandamus

Marriage

Master/Servant

Mechanics Liens

Mental Health

Military Justice

Militia

Mines/Minerals

Monopolies

Mortgages

Motions


Navigable Waters

Negligence

New Trial

Newspapers

Notaries

Notice

Nuisance

Oath

Obscenity

Obstructing Justice


Parent/Child

Parliamentary Law

Parties

Partnership

Patents

Payment

Penalties

PensionsPerjury

Pilots

Pleading

Postal Service

Pretrial Procedure

Principal/Agent

Principal/Surety

Prisons

Process


Property

Prostitution

Public Contracts

Public Lands

Public Utilities

Quieting Title

RICO

Railroads

Rape

Receivers


Records

Release

Religious Societies

Removal of Cases

Replevin

Robbery

Sales

Schools

Seamen

Searches/Seizures



Sequestration


Sheriffs/Constables

Shipping

Slaves


Sodomy


StatesStatutes

Stipulations

Subrogation

Suicide

Sunday

Taxation

Telecommunications

Tenancy in Common


Time

Torts

Towage

Towns

Trade Regulation

Treason

Treaties

Trespass

Trial

Trover/Conversion

Trusts



Unlawful Assembly

Urban Railroads

Vagrancy

Vendor/Purchaser

Venue


Warehousemen


Weights/Measures

Wharves

Wills Witnesses

Woods/Forests


Zoning/Planning

Criminal Matters (Life & Limb)Business Matters (Property)

Principal Components Analysis

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-0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Dimension 2

Dim

ensi

on 1

Abatement/Revival


Accord/Satisfaction

Account

Account, Action on

Accountants

Action


AdmiraltyAdoption

Adverse Possession

AgricultureAliens

Amicus Curiae

Animals

Annuities

Appeal/Error

Arbitration

Armed Services

Arrest

Arson

Assault/Battery

Assignments

Associations


Asylums

Attachment

Attorney/Client


Bail

Bankruptcy

Banks/Banking

Bigamy

Bills/Notes

Bonds

Boundaries

Breach of the Peace

Bribery


Canals


Carriers

CemeteriesCensus


Charities

Chemical Depende

Child Custody

Child Support



Clubs


Collision

Commerce


Common Law


Conspiracy

Constitutional Law


Contempt

Contracts

Contribution



Corporations

Costs

Counties

Courts

Covenants

Criminal Law

Customs/Usages

Customs Duties

DamagesDeath

Debtor/Creditor


Deposits in Court


Disorderly Conduct



Divorce

Domicile

Double Jeopardy

Dower/Curtesy

Easements


Elections

Electricity

Embezzlement

Eminent Domain

Employers Liability

Environmental Law

Equity

Escape

Escheat

Estates in Property

EstoppelEvidence

Exchanges

Execution


Exemptions

Explosives

Extortion/Threats



False Pretenses


Federal Courts

Fines

Fires

Fish

Food


Forfeitures

Forgery

Fraud

Game

Gaming

Garnishment

Gas

Gifts

Good Will

Grand Jury

Guardian/Ward


Health

Highways

Homestead

Homicide

Husband/Wife


Indemnity

Indians


InfantsInjunction

Innkeepers

Inspection


Interest


Interpleader


Joint Tenancy

Judges

JudgmentJury

Kidnapping

Labor Relations

Landlord/Tenant

Larceny


Libel/Slander

Licenses

Liens


Lotteries


Mandamus

Marriage

Master/Servant

Mechanics Liens

Mental Health

Military Justice

Militia

Mines/Minerals

Monopolies

Mortgages

Motions


Navigable Waters

Negligence

New Trial

Newspapers

Notaries

Notice

Nuisance

Oath

Obscenity

Obstructing Justice


Parent/Child

Parliamentary Law

Parties

Partnership

Patents

Payment

Penalties

PensionsPerjury

Pilots

Pleading

Postal Service

Pretrial Procedure

Principal/Agent

Principal/Surety

Prisons

Process


Property

Prostitution

Public Contracts

Public Lands

Public Utilities

Quieting Title

RICO

Railroads

Rape

Receivers


Records

Release

Religious Societies

Removal of Cases

Replevin

Robbery

Sales

Schools

Seamen

Searches/Seizures



Sequestration


Sheriffs/Constables

Shipping

Slaves


Sodomy


StatesStatutes

Stipulations

Subrogation

Suicide

Sunday

Taxation

Telecommunications

Tenancy in Common


Time

Torts

Towage

Towns

Trade Regulation

Treason

Treaties

Trespass

Trial

Trover/Conversion

Trusts



Unlawful Assembly

Urban Railroads

Vagrancy

Vendor/Purchaser

Venue


Warehousemen


Weights/Measures

Wharves

Wills Witnesses

Woods/Forests


Zoning/Planning

Crim

inal

Mat

ters

(Life

& L

imb)

Bus

ines

s M

atte

rs (P

rope

rty)

Abatement/Revival

Accord/Satisfaction

Admiralty

Adverse Possession Animals

Annuities

rbitration

Assignments


Attachment

Bigamy

Bills/Notes

BoundariesCanals

CollisionCompromise/Settlement

Constitutional Law

Consumer CConsumer Protection

Contracts

Contribution


Covenants

Custo

g

Debtor/Creditor

Deposits in Court

Descent/Distributi

Divorce

Domicile

Easements


Employers Liability

Estates in PropertyExchanges

Execution

Exemptions

Explosives

FactorsFederal Courts

Forg

Game

Homestead

Husband/Wife

Constructive Contracts

Indemnity

Interest Interpleader

Landlord/Tenant


Liens

Lotteries

Marriage

Master/Servant

Mechanics Liens

Mortgages

Navigable Waters

egligenceNuisance

Parliamentary Law Partne

Payment

Pensions

Pilots

Pleading

Pre

Principal/AgentProcess

iability Prohibition

Property

Title

RICO

Receivers

Release

Sales

Seamen

Sequestration


Sheriffs/Constables

Shipping


StatesStatutes

Subrogation

Time

Torts

owage

TownsTrusts

ser

Venue

Ware

Weights/Measures

Wharves

Woods/Forests

55 Bigamy

Person domiciled in one state should not be allowed to suffer penalties of bigamy for living outside state with only one which state of his domicile recognizes as his lawful wife, and children born of only marriage which is lawful in state of his domicile should not carry stigma of bastardywhen they move elsewhere. Estin v. Estin, 334 U.S. 541 (1948).

Bigamy = Crime

But, arises in a divorce case in which alimony, a property interest, is contested.

2004 Supreme Court Term West Topic Space(Procedural Topics Removed)

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2004 Supreme Court Term West Topic Space(Procedural Topics Removed)Criminal Matters (Life & Limb)

Business Matters (Property)

-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Dimension 5

Dim

ensi

on 6

Abatement/Revival

Abortion/Birth ControlAccord/Satisfaction

Account

Account, Action on

Accountants

Action


Admiralty

Adoption

Adverse Possession

Agriculture

Aliens

Amicus Curiae

AnimalsAnnuities

Appeal/Error

Arbitration

Armed Services

Arrest

Arson

Assault/Battery

Assignments

AssociationsAssumpsit, Action of

Asylums

Attachment

Attorney/Client

Attorney General

AutomobilesAviationBail

Bankruptcy

Banks/Banking

Bigamy

Bills/Notes

BondsBoundaries

Breach of the Peace

Bribery


Canals


Carriers

Cemeteries

Census

Certiorari

Champerty/Maintenance

Charities

Chemical Dependents

Child CustodyChild Support


Citizens

Civil Rights

Clerks of Courts

Clubs


Collision

Commerce


Common Law


Conspiracy

Constitutional Law

Consumer Credit

Consumer ProtectionContempt

Contracts

Contribution

Controlled Substances

Convicts


Corporations

Costs

CountiesCourts

Covenants

Criminal Law

Customs/Usages

Customs Duties

Damages

Death

Debtor/Creditor


Deposits in Court


Disorderly Conduct



Divorce

Domicile

Double Jeopardy

Dower/Curtesy

Easements

Election of RemediesElections

Electricity

Embezzlement

Eminent Domain

Employers Liability

Environmental Law

Equity Escape

Escheat

Estates in Property

Estoppel

Evidence

Exchanges

Execution


Exemptions

Explosives

Extortion/Threats


Factors

False Imprisonment

False Pretenses


Federal Courts

Fines

Fires Fish

FoodForcible Entry/Detainer

Forfeitures

Forgery

Fraud

Game

Gaming

GarnishmentGas

Gifts

Good Will

Grand Jury

Guardian/Ward

Habeas Corpus

Hawkers/Peddlers

Health

Highways

Homestead

Homicide

Husband/Wife


Indemnity

IndiansIndictment/Information

Infants

Injunction

Innkeepers

Inspection

Insurance

Insurrection/Sedition

Interest

Internal Revenue

International Law

InterpleaderIntoxicating Liquors

Joint Tenancy

Judges

Judgment

Jury

KidnappingLabor Relations

Landlord/Tenant

Larceny

Levees/Flood ControlLibel/Slander

Licenses

Liens


Lotteries


Mandamus

Marriage

Master/Servant

Mechanics LiensMental Health

Military Justice

Militia

Mines/Minerals

Monopolies

Mortgages

Motions

Municipal Corporations Navigable Waters

NegligenceNew Trial

NewspapersNotaries

Notice

Nuisance

Oath

Obscenity

Obstructing Justice

Officers/Public Employees

Pardon/Parole

Parent/Child

Parliamentary Law

Parties

Partnership

Patents

Payment

PenaltiesPensions

Perjury

PilotsPleading

Postal Service

Pretrial Procedure

Principal/Agent

Principal/Surety

Prisons

Process

Products Liability

Prohibition

Property

Prostitution

Public ContractsPublic Lands

Public Utilities

Quieting Title

RICO

Railroads

Rape

Receivers

Receiving Stolen GoodsRecords

Release

Religious Societies

Removal of Cases

Replevin

Robbery

Sales

Schools

Seamen

Searches/Seizures Secured Transactions

Securities Regulation

Sentencing/Punishment

Sequestration


Sheriffs/Constables

Shipping

Slaves

Social Security/Public WelfareSodomy


States

Statutes

Stipulations

Subrogation

Suicide

Sunday

Taxation

Telecommunications

Tenancy in Common

Territories

Theaters/Shows

Time

Torts

Towage

Towns

Trade Regulation

Treason

Treaties

TrespassTrial

Trover/Conversion

Trusts

United States

United States Magistrates


Unlawful AssemblyUrban Railroads Vagrancy

Vendor/Purchaser

Venue


Warehousemen

Waters/Water Courses

Weapons

Weights/Measures

Wharves

Wills

WitnessesWoods/Forests


Zoning/Planning

Doctrinal (red)

Procedural (blue)

10

-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Dimension 7

Dim

ensi

on 8

Abatement/Revival


Accord/Satisfaction

Account

Account, Action on

Accountants

Action


Admiralty

Adoption

Adverse PossessionAgriculture

Aliens

Amicus Curiae

Animals

Annuities

Appeal/Error ArbitrationArmed Services

Arrest

Arson

Assault/Battery

Assignments

Associations


Asylums

Attachment

Attorney/Client

Attorney General

AutomobilesAviation

BailBankruptcy

Banks/Banking

Bigamy

Bills/Notes

Bonds

Boundaries

Breach of the Peace

Bribery


Canals

Cancellation of InstrumentsCarriers

Cemeteries

Census

Certiorari

Champerty/Maintenance

Charities

Chemical Dependents

Child Custody

Child SupportChildren Out-Of-Wedlock

Citizens

Civil Rights Clerks of Courts

ClubsColleges/Universities

Collision

Commerce


Common Law


ConspiracyConstitutional Law

Consumer Credit

Consumer Protection

Contempt

Contracts

Contribution

Controlled Substances

Convicts


CorporationsCosts

Counties

Courts

Covenants

Criminal Law

Customs/Usages

Customs Duties

Damages Death

Debtor/Creditor Declaratory JudgmentDeposits in Court


Disorderly Conduct

District/Prosecuting AttorneysDistrict of Columbia

Divorce

Domicile

Double Jeopardy Dower/Curtesy

Easements


Elections

Electricity

Embezzlement

Eminent Domain

Employers Liability

Environmental Law

Equity

Escape

Escheat

Estates in Property

EstoppelEvidence

Exchanges

Execution


Exemptions

Explosives

Extortion/Threats


Factors

False ImprisonmentFalse Pretenses

Federal Civil ProcedureFederal Courts

Fines

Fires

Fish

Food


Forfeitures

ForgeryFraud

Game

Gaming

Garnishment

Gas

Gifts

Good Will

Grand Jury

Guardian/Ward

Habeas Corpus

Hawkers/Peddlers

Health

Highways

Homestead

Homicide

Husband/Wife

Implied/Constructive ContractsIndemnity Indians


Infants

Injunction

InnkeepersInspection


InterestInternal Revenue

International Law

Interpleader


Joint Tenancy

Judges

JudgmentJury

KidnappingLabor Relations

Landlord/Tenant

Larceny

Levees/Flood ControlLibel/Slander

Licenses

Liens


Lotteries

Malicious ProsecutionMandamus

Marriage

Master/Servant

Mechanics Liens

Mental Health

Military Justice

Militia

Mines/Minerals

Monopolies

Mortgages

Motions


Navigable WatersNegligence

New Trial

Newspapers

Notaries

Notice

Nuisance

Oath ObscenityObstructing Justice

Officers/Public Employees

Pardon/Parole

Parent/Child

Parliamentary Law

PartiesPartnership

Patents

Payment

Penalties

Pensions

Perjury

Pilots

Pleading

Postal Service

Pretrial Procedure

Principal/Agent

Principal/Surety

Prisons

Process

Products Liability

Prohibition

Property

ProstitutionPublic ContractsPublic Lands

Public Utilities

Quieting Title

RICO

RailroadsRape

Receivers


Records

Release

Religious Societies

Removal of Cases

Replevin Robbery Sales

Schools

Seamen

Searches/Seizures

Secured TransactionsSecurities Regulation

Sentencing/Punishment

SequestrationSet-off/Counterclaim

Sheriffs/Constables

Shipping

SlavesSocial Security/Public WelfareSodomy


StatesStatutes

Stipulations

Subrogation

Suicide

Sunday

TaxationTelecommunications

Tenancy in Common


Time

Torts

Towage

Towns

Trade Regulation

Treason

Treaties

Trespass

Trial

Trover/Conversion

Trusts

United States

United States Magistrates

United States MarshalsUnlawful Assembly

Urban Railroads

Vagrancy

Vendor/Purchaser

Venue


Warehousemen

Waters/Water Courses

Weapons

Weights/Measure

Wharves

Wills

Witnesses

Woods/Forests

Workers CompensationZoning/Planning

Family Obligations

Business Obligations

-0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

Dimension 3

Dim

ensi

on 4

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

ANTITRUST LAW

BANKING LAW

BUSINSS ASSOCIATIONS

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW

COMMERCIAL LAW

COMMUNICATIONS LAW

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

CONSUMER PROTECTION

CONTRACTS

CREDITORS AND DEBTORS' RIGHTS

CRIMINAL LAWCRIMINAL PROCEDURE

EDUCATION LAW

ELECTION LAW

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LAW

ENTERTAINMENT LAW

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

ESTATE PLANNING

FAMILY LAW

HEALTH LAW

IMMIGRATION LAW

INSURANCE LAW

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS

INTERNATIONAL LAW

JUVENILE JUSTICE

LABOR LAW

LAND USE LAW

MARITIME LAW

MILITARY LAW

NATIVE PEOPLES LAW

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

OIL AND GAS LAW PRODUCTS LIABIL

PROPERTY LAW

PUBLIC LAND LAW

SECURED TRANSACTIONS

SECURITIES REGULATION

TAXATION

TORTS

WATER LAW

WILLS AND TRUSTS

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Principal Components Analysis – Just Doctrinal (Aggregated to Law School Topics)

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ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

ANTITRUST LAW

BANKING LAW

BUSINSS ASSOCIATIONS

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW

COMMERCIAL LAW

COMMUNICATIONS LAW

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

CONSUMER PROTECTION

CONTRACTS

CREDITORS AND DEBTORS' RIGHTS

CRIMINAL LAWCRIMINAL PROCEDURE

EDUCATION LAW

ELECTION LAW

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LAW

ENTERTAINMENT LAW

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

ESTATE PLANNING

FAMILY LAW

HEALTH LAW

IMMIGRATION LAW

INSURANCE LAW

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS

INTERNATIONAL LAW

JUVENILE JUSTICE

LABOR LAW

LAND USE LAW

MARITIME LAW

MILITARY LAW

NATIVE PEOPLES LAW

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

OIL AND GAS LAW PRODUCTS LIABIL

PROPERTY LAW

PUBLIC LAND LAW

SECURED TRANSACTIONS

SECURITIES REGULATION

TAXATION

TORTS

WATER LAW

WILLS AND TRUSTS

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Professor Stephen A. ConradB.A., Haverford College; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University; J.D., Yale University. Attorney, Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts.Before becoming a lawyer, Professor Conrad became an historian. He still publishes as much in history journals as in law reviews. At Harvard, his history dissertation was about a school of eighteenth-century philosophy that greatly influenced the American Founding, especially the framing of our federal Constitution and early Supreme Court jurisprudence. As a student at the Yale Law School, Conrad pursued the connections between his history background and legal scholarship.

Family Law Professors:

Professor Aviva A. OrensteinAB 1981, Cornell University; JD 1986, Cornell Law School. Articles Editor, Cornell Law Review. Law Clerk, Hon. Edward R. Becker, U.S. Court of Appeals, ThirdCircuit, 1987-88. Faculty, Rutgers Law School, 1989-92. Member, Order of the Coif.Professor Orenstein writes and teaches in the area of evidence. Her current work examines special evidence rules that allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant's prior sexual offenses in rape and child molestation cases. Professor Orenstein also teaches Civil Procedure, Legal Profession, and Children and the Law. In 2000-2001, she directed the Child Advocacy Clinic, supervising law students who serve as guardians ad litem for children in contested custody cases. She has also served as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children.

Professor Julia LamberBA 1969, DePauw University; JD 1972, Indiana University. Note Editor, Indiana Law Journal. Attorney, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1972-75. Faculty and Assistant Dean, University of Nebraska College of Law, 1977-79. Member, Order of the Coif. The former IU dean for women's affairs and a leading scholar in employment discrimination law, Professor Lamber brings a wealth of administrative experience and scholarship to the classroom. She has taught Administrative Law, Civil Rights Statutes, Employment Discrimination, Family Law, Women and the Law, and the Federal Courts Clinic.

Harvard Law Review Supreme Court StatisticsJuly 2, 2005 New York Times

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Appointed by a Democrat

Appointed by a Republican

Voting frequencies represented as the edge weight between nodes and presented visually as a graph. (Rendered with Pajek using a stochastic, spring force algorithm.)

Ideological Landscape of the Justices (1994 – 2003)

Voting Together > 50%(Non-Unanimous Cases 1994 -2003 Supreme Court Terms)

Voting Together > 49%(Non-Unanimous Cases 1994 -2003 Supreme Court Terms)

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-40 -20 0 20 40

-20

-10

010

20

m3ds$points[, 1:2][,1]

m3d

s$po

ints

[, 1:

2][,2

]

William H. Rehnquist

ohn Paul Stevens

Sandra Day O'Connor

Antonin Scalia

Anthony M. KennedyDavid Hacktt Souter

Clarence Thomas

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Stephen G. Breyer

1994-2003 Non-Unanimous Cases (MDS using R)

© 2007 Peter A. Hook – Spatial distribution based on the percentage of co-voting in Supreme Court opinions. Source: Harvard Law Review (O Data). Rendered with Pajek. Blue border color = appointed by a Democrat. Red border color = appointed by a Republican.

Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)

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10 Highest Cumulative Voting Percentages(1956 – 2005 Terms)

7879RobertsKennedy

3982AlitoRoberts7882RobertsScalia

2391RobertsO’Connor

39479FortasBrennan

39180FortasWarren

140682BrennanWarren13285MarshallFortas

4085ClarkReed17888MarshallWarren

# Cases Together%Justice 2 Justice 1

91%


10 Highest Cumulative Voting Percentages(1956 – 2005 Terms)

7879RobertsKennedy

3982AlitoRoberts7882RobertsScalia

2391RobertsO’Connor

39479FortasBrennan

39180FortasWarren

140682BrennanWarren13285MarshallFortas

4085ClarkReed17888MarshallWarren

# Cases Together%Justice 2 Justice 1

88%

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12 Lowest Cumulative Voting Percentages (1956 – 2005 Terms)

# Cases %Justice 2 Justice 1

52342WhittakerDouglas270642RehnquistBrennan28442ThomasBlackmun

162841Harlan IIBlack23141BurtonDouglas

281941RehnquistMarshall163339Harlan IIDouglas58838DouglasFrankfurter49537PowellDouglas69536BlackmunDouglas79235BurgerDouglas51328RehnquistDouglas

28%


12 Lowest Cumulative Voting Percentages (1956 – 2005 Terms)

# Cases %Justice 2 Justice 1

52342WhittakerDouglas270642RehnquistBrennan28442ThomasBlackmun

162841Harlan IIBlack23141BurtonDouglas

281941RehnquistMarshall163339Harlan IIDouglas58838DouglasFrankfurter49537PowellDouglas69536BlackmunDouglas79235BurgerDouglas51328RehnquistDouglas

8 of the 12 Lowest Co-Voting Percentages are with Douglas!

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Significant Cases Rehnquist Court 6:• U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton – no state term

limits for Congresspersons

• Clinton v. Jones – President can be sued while in office

• Boy Scouts of America v. Dale – private organization can prohibit homosexuals

• Bush v. Gore – Florida recount must stop

• Lawrence v. Texas – sodomy laws unconstitutional

• Atkins v. Virginia – cannot execute mentally retarded criminals

• Grutter v. Bollinger – narrowly tailored affirmative action is permissible

• Hamdi v. Rumsfeld – enemy combatants have right to neutral decisionmaker

• Kelo v. City of New London – state can take private property for commercial development

Rehnquist Court 6 (Aug. 3, 1994 to Sept. 28, 2005)

(6th different composition of nine Justices during the tenure of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.)

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1965

1973

1971

1972

1975

1976

1977

1979

1979

1980

1981

1983

1986

1988

1989

1990

1992

1997

2000

2006

2007

26 “Abortion and Birth Control” Cases in the S.Ct.

= Birth Control

= Abortion Timeline Layout

Timeline Layout with Citation Inter-linkages

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Relational Infrastructure of the Law (Depth of Treatment)

= Examined

= Discussed

= Cited

= Mentioned

West Depth of Treatment

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= Examined

= Discussed

= Cited


= Examined

= Discussed


20

= Examined


” = Quoting


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” = Quoting


Opinions that Quote from Roe v. Wade

Relational Infrastructure of the Law (Case Status)

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= Examined

= Discussed

= Cited

= Mentioned


West Status Flags= at least one point is no longer good law

= at least one point has negative treatment

= case has some history

= case has been cited

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-20 -10 0 10 20 30

-10

010

2030


m3d

s$po

ints

[, 1:

2][,2

]

Black

Douglas

Harlan

Brennan

Stewart

White

Marshall

Burger

Blackmun

1970 Term – Blackmun / Burger First Together

1985 Term – Their Last Together

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

-10

010

2030


m3d

s$po

ints

[, 1:

2][,2

]

Brennan

White

Marshall

Burger

Blackmun

RehnquistPowell

Stevens

O'Connor

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ASIS&T Thesaurus – First Three Levels(no rigor in spatial layout)

Path of Interest

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Most of ISSI 2007

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Bradford's law is a pattern first described by Samuel C. Bradford in 1934 that estimates the exponentially diminishing returns of extending a search for references in science journals. One formulation is that if we sort journals in a field by number of articles into three groups, each with about one-third of all articles, then the number of journals into each group will be proportional to 1:n:n². There are a number of related formulations of the principle.

In economics this pattern is called a Pareto distribution. As a practical example, suppose that a researcher has 5 core scientific journals for their subject. Suppose that in a month there are 12 articles of interest in those journals. Suppose further that in order to find another dozen articles of interest, the researcher would have to go to 10 journals. Then that researcher's Bradford multiplier bm is 2 (ie 10/5). For each new dozen articles, that researcher will need to look in bm times as many journals. After looking in 5, 10, 20, 40, ... journals, most researchers quickly realize that there is little point in looking further.

Different researchers have different numbers of core journals, and different Bradford multipliers. But the pattern holds quite well across many subjects, and may well be a general pattern for human interactions in social systems. Like Zipf'slaw, to which it is related, we do not have a good explanation for why it works. But knowing that it does is very useful for librarians. What it means is that for each specialty it is sufficient to identify the "core publications" for that field and only stock those. Very rarely will researchers need to go outside that set.

However its impact has been far greater than that. Armed with this idea and inspired by Vannevar Bush's famous article As We May Think, Eugene Garfield at the Institute for Scientific Information in the 1960s undertook the development of a comprehensive index of how scientific thinking propagates. The creation of his Science Citation Index (SCI) had the effect of making it easy to identify exactly which scientists did science that had an impact, and which journals that science appeared in. It also caused the discovery, which some did not expect, that a few journals like Nature and Science were core for all of hard science. The same pattern does not happen with the humanities or the social science - possibly because objective truth is so much harder to establish there, or because literature use in these fields is more diffuse, with less emphasis on journals.

The result of this is pressure on scientists to publish in the best journals, and pressure on universities to ensure access to that core set of journals.

-- Wikipedia (June 21, 2007)

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THE END

Visualizing the Topic Space of the United States Supreme Court · (Number of Cases they appear in...

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