Citator meaning

A citator is a legal research tool used to find citing references to a specific court case or statute.


Citator definitions

Word backwards rotatic
Part of speech Noun
Syllabic division ci-ta-tor
Plural Citators
Total letters 7
Vogais (3) i,a,o
Consonants (3) c,t,r

What is a Citator?

A citator is a legal research tool used to verify the validity and relevance of case law or statutes. It provides information on how a court has treated a particular legal authority in subsequent cases. Citators are essential for lawyers, judges, law students, and legal researchers to understand the evolution of legal principles over time.

How Does a Citator Work?

When using a citator, you input the citation of a case or statute you are researching. The citator then returns a list of all the subsequent cases that have cited your original legal authority. This allows you to see if the case has been followed, distinguished, or overruled in later decisions. Citators typically provide detailed information on the treatment of the case, including whether it has been cited as good law or bad law.

The Importance of Citators

Citators play a crucial role in legal research by helping practitioners understand the current status of the law. By reviewing how courts have interpreted and applied a particular legal authority over time, legal professionals can make more informed arguments and decisions. Citators also help researchers discover related cases that may not have been found through traditional search methods.

Key Features of Citators

Most citators also include information on parallel citations, history of the case, and citing references. They allow users to navigate through a network of legal authorities to gain a comprehensive understanding of a particular legal issue. Citators are frequently used in conjunction with online legal research databases to streamline the research process and access a vast library of legal materials.

In conclusion, citators are invaluable tools for legal professionals seeking to conduct thorough and accurate legal research. By using a citator, researchers can track the influence and significance of a legal authority, allowing them to build stronger arguments and support their positions with well-founded legal principles.


Citator Examples

  1. Lawyers often use a citator to check the validity of case law.
  2. Legal researchers rely on a citator to find related court cases.
  3. Judges may consult a citator to review the history of a particular legal decision.
  4. Law students learn how to use a citator to support their arguments.
  5. Attorneys use a citator to update their legal briefs with recent case law.
  6. Legal scholars utilize a citator to analyze trends in court rulings.
  7. Paralegals assist lawyers by conducting citator research for their cases.
  8. Researchers in other fields may adapt a citator system for tracking academic articles.
  9. Journalists may consult a citator to understand the legal context of a news story.
  10. Government officials use a citator to ensure policy decisions align with legal precedents.


Most accessed

Search the alphabet

  • #
  • Aa
  • Bb
  • Cc
  • Dd
  • Ee
  • Ff
  • Gg
  • Hh
  • Ii
  • Jj
  • Kk
  • Ll
  • Mm
  • Nn
  • Oo
  • Pp
  • Qq
  • Rr
  • Ss
  • Tt
  • Uu
  • Vv
  • Ww
  • Xx
  • Yy
  • Zz
  • Updated 02/07/2024 - 08:53:59