Here you will see 5 case brief templates.
These templates simplify the hassles of writing your case brief.
It contains all the components of the case brief and shows you what is supposed to be filled.
If you prefer to learn the whole process of writing a case brief step by step read here
otherwise let’s see the templates
Contents
case brief template 1
Heading/ title/citation
(here add the full citation of the case including the parties, date of the decision, the court and Judge passed the decision)
example
NB: the images shown as example is the screenshot from the Marbury versus Madison case brief and lucy v zehmer case brief
Parties
(add full name of the parties and their role example plaintiff, respondent etc)
example
Procedure
(Explain the whole litigating stage through which the case passed and what happened to each stage, start with the lower court and upwards)
example
Facts
(summarrise the key takeaways of the case, explain all relevant people, cause of action (s), locations, and objects involved)
example
Issues
example
(Identify the legal issue that the court addressed)
Rule
(state the legal principle (s) that the court uses to determine the case)
example
Analysis/Application/reasoning
(Explain how the court apply the rule to the facts)
example
Holding
(explain the response of the court to legal issues, state Yes or No)
example
Judgment
(state the court final decision)
example 1.
Example 2
Dissenting Opinion (optional)
(state the opinion of the judge which appears to differ from the opinion of other judges which form the main decision of the case. Don’t forget to show the reasons for dissenting)
Obiter dictum (optional)
(identify any alternative decision provided by court)
Personal reaction (optional)
(explain your personal view to the case decision, it may be critic, comments or attention)
case brief template 2
Citation
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parties
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Procedural History
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legal Issue
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Facts of Case
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Statement of Rule
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dicta
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reasoning
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Holding
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Concurrence
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dissents
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dicta
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Personal Reaction
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
case brief template 3
A v. B
Source & Court
Judge
Facts:
●
Procedural History:
●
Issue(s):
●
Applicable Rule of Law:
●
Holding(s):
●
Judgment:
●
Reasoning:
●
Comments:
●
●
case brief template 4
Name of Case,
Facts of the case:
History:
Issues:
i)
ii)
ii)
Holding:
…………………..
Court’s Reasoning:
- Rule:
- Application:
- Concurring and Dissenting Opinion(s) Reasoning:
case brief template 5
The names of the parties
____________________________________________________
Name of the Judge
____________________________________________________
The procedural history
____________________________________________________
The court the ruling or opinion came from
____________________________________________________
The facts
____________________________________________________
The issues
____________________________________________________
The holding
____________________________________________________
The legal reasoning
____________________________________________________
The reason why the case was included in your reading assignment
___________________________________________________
Finally, the questions you might have after reading the case.
____________________________________________________
case brief for further reference
- Hamer v Sidway case brief
- Pennoyer v Neff case brief
- Pierson v Post case brief
- Hawkins v Mcgee case brief
- Tinker v des Moines case brief
- Hadley v Baxendale case brief
- Duncan v Louisiana case brief
- Garrett v Dailey case brief
- Brown v Board of education case brief
- Griswold v Connecticut case brief
- Katz v United States case brief
- Riley v California case brief | United States v. Wurie
- Leonard v Pepsico case brief
- Wickard v Filburn case brief
- District of Columbia v. Heller case brief
- Gonzales v Raich case brief
- Shelley v Kraemer case brief
- Tennessee v Garner case brief
