Last revised: August, 2009
Maryland Digest, 2nd
The Maryland Digest, 2nd is a cumulative subject compilation of, and index to, the abstracts (or digests) of higher court cases decided in Maryland and the District of Columbia courts dating from the earliest period (1658 in Maryland) to the present. It brings together cases on a similar point of law which were originally published separately and in chronological order in a number of legal reporting services.
Court decisions included are from the state appellate courts, appellate court cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court and by the Federal courts if the cases arose in or were appealed from the state. It does not include cases decided in lower or trial courts since these are rarely published or used as legal precedent.
Email the subject area specialist or call (301)405-9213 for more information.
Table of Contents
Access
The Maryland Digest, 2nd is available in the Maryland Room of Hornbake Library and in McKeldin Library.
UMCP HBK Maryland Room Maryland Reference KFM 1257.M3 1993
UMCP McKeldin Library Stacks KFM 1257.M3 1993
Online access is available at Westlaw Campus Research
UM only Access through Research Port; choose Law>Content List>Cases>State Case Law>Individual State Jurisdictions>Maryland>Maryland Cases>Custom Digest.
Use the Maryland Digest, 2d to Find:
- Citations to and abstracts of all Maryland and D.C. appellate court cases which dealt with a specific subject or point of law. Use the descriptive Word Index in volumes 40-43C.
- Abstract(s) of the subjects or points of law discussed in a specific Maryland or D.C. case, e.g., Smith vs. Jones. Use Table of Cases in volumes 44-46.
- Cases in other states which discussed the same point(s) of law as a specific Maryland case. Look up the same subject heading(s) and key number(s) used for the case in the Maryland Digest in the other sets of the West's American Digest System.
- The history of a specific case, e.g., Smith vs. Jones, as it was affected by later court decisions. Use the Table of Cases in volumes 44-46.
- Where a specific case, e.g., Smith vs. Jones, was published. Use the Table of Cases in volumes 44-46.
- Words and phrases which have been defined in Maryland court decisions. Use the Words and Phrases section in volume 47.
Arrangement
Volumes are arranged in one alphabetical sequence according to over 450 broad subjects such as Arbitration, Divorce, and Robbery. There is a complete list of these subjects at the beginning of each volume. Each subject is introduced by a scope note which specifies what is included in, or excluded from, that subject. Each subject is further divided into as many sub-topics as are necessary to cover the points of that subject. Each subject subdivision is assigned a "key" number (preceded by the outline of a key). There is a complete list or analysis of all key numbers used for any one subject at the beginning of that subject.
Subject Index
Although the digests are arranged by broad subject, the fastest and most accurate search begins with the Descriptive Word Index. Comprising volumes 40-43C, these seven volumes include the main subject headings, their subdivisions, and thousands of catchwords and phrases which describe the points of law abstracted in the digests.
The most useful words to search are the most specific descriptive terms which describe the five elements common to most legal problems:
- The parties (e.g., landlord, infant, spectator, policeman)
- Places and things involved (e.g., television, motel room, ski lift)
- Cause of the action (e.g., negligence, trespass, slander)
- Defense (e.g., contributory negligence, assumption of risk)
- Relief sought (e.g., money damages, a divorce, an injunction)
NOTE: The same subject headings and key numbers used in the Maryland Digest, 2d are used in all other digests in the West's American Digest System, such as General Digest (national in scope), and other state, regional, and federal digests. The only exception is the Century Digest, covering cases up to 1896, which provides tables to translate its system of headings and key numbers into those used in the rest of the system.
Other Indexes
In addition to the Descriptive Word Index, the Maryland Digest, 2d includes indexes to:
- Case name by plaintiff's last name and defendant's last name-Volume 44-46.
- Words and phrases which have been defined in legal cases-Volume 47
Updates
Each bound volume is updated by annual "pocket parts" filed in the back of each volume and comprehensive paper bound supplements. Periodically, both of these are incorporated into revised hard cover replacement volumes.
To update the pocket part consult the beginning of each Atlantic Reporter, 2nd Series advance sheets. Each issue contains an individual digest for the time period included within the advance sheet.
