In this official collection of resources, you will find individual slip opinions that are the first version of the Court's opinions. You will also find the United States Reports bound volumes in this collection. The United States Reports contain final decisions and opinions of the Court for a specific period in time/term that may also provide historical references for your research needs. Sign up for a print subscription to the Slip Opinions.
What are the Supreme Court Reports?
Bound volumes of the United States Reports contain the fourth and final generation of the Court's opinion.
The materials collected here contain not just opinions, but the full text, from cover through index, of bound volumes 502 et seq., including all of the opinions, orders, and other materials issued for the Court’s 1991 Term and subsequent years.
NOTE: Only the printed bound volumes of the United States Reports contain the final, official opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States. In case of discrepancies between a bound volume and the materials included here--or any other version of the same materials, whether print or electronic, official or unofficial--the printed bound volume controls. ( U.S. Supreme Court-Opinions-Bound Volumes)
You can also find the official primary Court opinion also referenced as "Slip " opinions in our Supreme Court Slip Opinion resources collection
What are the Supreme Court Slip Opinions?
“Slip” opinions are the first version of the Court’s opinions posted on this website. A “slip” opinion consists of the majority or principal opinion, any concurring or dissenting opinions written by the Justices, and a prefatory syllabus prepared by the Reporter’s Office that summarizes the decision. The most well-known opinions are those cases of the Court that have been announced and heard in oral argument. The Justice that authors the principal opinion summarizes the opinion from the bench during a regular scheduled session of the Court. (citation: Supreme Court -Opinions of the Court)
In this official collection, you will find individual slip opinions issued within the US Supreme Court. Some may include cases by individuals, corporations, state or municipal Government, and more.
You may also be intersted in the Supreme Court Reports that contain the final generation of a slip opinion.
