Visualizing the Topic Space of the
United States Supreme Court
Peter A. Hook,
J.D., M.S.L.I.S.
Electronic Services Librarian
Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington
Doctoral Student, School of Library and Information Science
http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~pahook
June 25, 2007, ISSI 2007
Madrid, Spain
SLIS
Impact of the Legal Information
Infrastructure
Frank Shepard’s
Legal Citators
Gene Garfield’s
Citators
Inspired Page and
Brin’s PageRank
Relevance
Algorithm which
powers Google
Illinois Citations, (1875)
(1950’s)
(1996)
1
2
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 map
on which to layer 60 years worth of data.
• Techniques: Principal Component Analysis (PCA),
Multidimensional Scaling (MDS)
3
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
U.S. v. Kozminski,
487 U.S. 931 (U.S. Mich., 1988).
356 Slaves
356 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 Conspiracy
91II Criminal Responsibility
91II(A) Offenses
91k29.5 Conspiracy Against Exercise of Civil Rights
91k29.5(2) k. Rights or Privileges Involved.
(Formerly 91k29.6)
Reference)
• 3743 unique topic pairings (out of a
possible 83,521 (289 * 289))
Statute prohibiting conspiracy to interfere with right
secured by Constitution or laws of United States
incorporates prohibition of involuntary servitude
contained in Thirteenth Amendment.
• Sparse matrix
361 Statutes
110 Criminal Law
4
Top 40 Topics
(Number of Cases they appear in out of 7,948 total)
3032
2294
1231
785
564
526
510
488
447
432
420
398
378
370
262
261
239
200
192
184
Federal Courts
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Statutes
Labor Relations
States
Commerce
Courts
Federal Civil Procedure
United States
Civil Rights
Internal Revenue
Habeas Corpus
Administrative Law and Procedure
Monopolies
Sentencing and Punishment
Searches and Seizures
Witnesses
Taxation
Judgment
169
164
153
144
140
135
134
131
131
122
120
119
113
110
106
101
100
90
90
85
Jury
Injunction
Elections
Armed Services
Aliens
Bankruptcy
Schools
Arrest
Double Jeopardy
Eminent Domain
Municipal Corporations
Indians
Declaratory Judgment
Action
Social Security and Public Welfare
Evidence
War and National Emergency
Trade Regulation
Environmental Law
Telecommunications
Bottom 40 Topics
(Number of Cases they appear in out of 7,948 total)
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Chemical Dependents
Accord and Satisfaction
Account
Account, Action on
Assumpsit, Action of
Asylums
Bigamy
Bonds
Boundaries
Cancellation of Instruments
Cemeteries
Champerty and Maintenance
Clubs
Deposits in Court
Dower and Curtesy
Easements
Explosives
False Pretenses
Forgery
Good Will
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Homestead
Innkeepers
Joint Tenancy
Motions
Notaries
Parliamentary Law
Parties
Penalties
Reference
Sequestration
Slaves
Tenancy in Common
Trover and Conversion
United States Marshals
Vendor and Purchaser
Weights and Measures
Wharves
Wills
Woods and Forests
Urban Railroads
5
Previous Work (2004) – Pajek Rendering of the Dataset
Color Code:
1. Persons
2. Property
3. Contracts
4. Torts
5. Crimes
6. Remedies
7. 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.
6
Principal Components Analysis
0.6
0.4
Dimension 1
0.8
1.0
Social Security/Public Welfare
Abortion/Birth Control
ElectionsSchools
Libel/Slander
Costs
Telecommunications
Food
Colleges/Universities
Banks/Banking
Attorney/Client
Declaratory Judgment
Trespass
Health
Mental Health
Judges
Citizens Prisons
Armed
Services
Cemeteries
War/National
Emergency
Municipal
Corporations
Intoxicating
Liquors
Sunday
Officers/Public
Employees
Census
Labor of
Relations
Militia
Obscenity
Removal
Cases
Agriculture
Evidence
Estoppel
Mandamus
Pardon/Parole
Appeal/Error
Environmental Law
Unlawful
Assembly
Civil RightsAttorney General
Extortion/ThreatsClerks
Aliens
Breach
of the
Peace
Corporations
of Courts
Associations
Indians
Territories
Charities
Action
District
of
Columbia
Customs
Duties
Wills
Aviation
Internal
Revenue
Records
Trade
Regulation
Children Out-Of-Wedlock
Injunction
International
Law
Postal Prostitution
Service
Mines/Minerals
Taxation
Infants
Fraud
Judgment
Workers
Automobiles
Hawkers/Peddlers
Limitation
of Compensation
Actions Gas
ContemptJury Witnesses
Commodity
FuturesCourts
Trading Regulation
Habeas
Corpus
United
States Magistrates
Escheat
Theaters/Shows
Insurance
Patents
Insurrection/Sedition
Vagrancy
Conspiracy
Certiorari
Eminent
Domain
Religious
Societies
Highways
Bankruptcy
Zoning/Planning
Electricity
SecuritiesMonopolies
Regulation
Railroads
Building/Loan
Associations
Equity
United
StatesFish
Waters/Water
Courses
Sentencing/Punishment
Civil Procedure
ObstructingKidnapping
Justice
Public
Lands Federal
Amicus
Sodomy Extradition/Detainers
Champerty/Maintenance
Newspapers
Executors/Administrators
Counties
Carriers
Clubs Curiae
Double
Jeopardy
Grand
Jury
Licenses
Stipulations
Controlled
Weapons Substances
Convicts
Homicide
Bonds
Disorderly
Conduct
Administrative Law/Procedure
Gaming
Commerce
Indictment/Information
Damages
Death Public Utilities
States Treaties
Master/Servant
Child Assault/Battery
Support
Pleading
Arrest
Searches/Seizures
Navigable Waters
Forfeitures
Employers Liability
Statutes
Adoption
Nuisance
Torts
District/Prosecuting Attorneys
Interpleader
Property
Principal/Agent
Divorce
Interest
Pensions
Larceny
Abatement/Revival
Seamen
Admiralty
Copyrights/IntellectualMarriage
Property
Shipping
Rape
Negligence
Attachment
Bail
Process
Garnishment
Trusts
Bribery
Debtor/Creditor
Perjury
Contracts
Trial Law
Public Contracts
Criminal
Bills/Notes RICO
ExecutionRelease
Pilots
Compromise/Settlement
Child Custody
Fines
Towns
Husband/Wife
Collision
Arbitration
Landlord/Tenant
Sequestration
Animals
Covenants
Domicile
Robbery
Adverse Possession
Fires Accountants
ContributionFederal Courts
Exemptions Pretrial Procedure
Arson
Notaries
Malicious Prosecution
False Imprisonment
Payment
Constitutional Law Factors
Warehousemen
Game
Forcible Entry/Detainer
Consumer Credit
Parties
Quieting Title
Oath
Receiving Stolen Goods
Consumer Protection
United States Marshals
Time Liens
Vendor/Purchaser
Suicide
Descent/Distribution
Implied/Constructive Contracts
Parent/Child
Common Law
Woods/Forests
Trover/Conversion
Guardian/Ward
False Pretenses
Sales
Prohibition
Assignments
Parliamentary
Law
Partnership
Embezzlement
New Trial
Innkeepers
Products Liability
Specific Performance
Asylums
Annuities
Bigamy
Military Justice
MortgagesVenue
Customs/Usages
Secured Transactions
Indemnity
Sheriffs/Constables
Treason
Election
of Remedies Deposits
in Court
Boundaries
Escape Replevin
Canals
Notice
Wharves
Levees/Flood
Control
Exchanges
Towage Receivers
Urban Railroads
Estates in Property
Accord/Satisfaction
Set-off/Counterclaim
Assumpsit, Action of
Slaves
SubrogationExplosives
Easements
Homestead
Forgery
Mechanics Liens
Weights/Measures
Lotteries
Chemical Depende
Gifts
0.2
Principal/Surety
Penalties
Account
Tenancy
in Common
Joint Tenancy
Good Will
Inspection
0.0
Dower/Curtesy
Account, Action on
Motions
Cancellation of Instruments
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Dimension 2
Principal Components Analysis
0.6
0.4
Weights/Measures
Abortion/Birth Control
Lotteries
Chemical Depende
Gifts
0.2
Principal/Surety
Penalties
Account
Tenancy
in Common
Joint Tenancy
Good Will
Dower/Curtesy
Account, Action on
0.0
Dimension 1
0.8
1.0
Social Security/Public Welfare
ElectionsSchools
Libel/Slander
Costs
Telecommunications
Food
Colleges/Universities
Banks/Banking
Attorney/Client
Declaratory Judgment
Trespass
Health
Mental Health
Judges
Citizens Prisons
Armed
Services
Cemeteries
War/National
Emergency
Municipal
Corporations
Intoxicating
Liquors
Sunday
Officers/Public
Employees
Census
Labor of
Relations
Militia
Obscenity
Removal
Cases
Agriculture
Evidence
Estoppel
Mandamus
Pardon/Parole
Appeal/Error
Environmental Law
Unlawful
Assembly
Civil RightsAttorney General
Extortion/ThreatsClerks
Aliens
Breach
of the
Peace
Corporations
of Courts
Indians
Associations
Action
Charities
DistrictCustoms
of
Columbia
Duties
Aviation
Wills
Internal
Revenue
Records
Trade
Regulation
Children Out-Of-Wedlock
Injunction
International
Law Territories
Postal Prostitution
Service
Mines/Minerals
Taxation
Infants
Fraud
Judgment
Workers
Automobiles
Hawkers/Peddlers
Limitation
of Compensation
Actions Gas
Witnesses
Contempt
Courts
Commodity
Futures
Trading
Regulation
Jury Habeas Corpus
United States Magistrates
Escheat
Theaters/Shows
Insurance
Patents
Conspiracy Insurrection/SeditionVagrancy
Certiorari
Eminent
Domain
Religious Societies
Highways
Bankruptcy
Zoning/Planning
Electricity
Securities
Regulation
Railroads
Building/Loan
Associations
Equity
United
StatesFish
Waters/Water
Courses
Monopolies
Kidnapping
Sentencing/Punishment
Federal
Civil Procedure
Obstructing
Justice
Public
Lands
Amicus
Curiae
Sodomy
Champerty/Maintenance
Newspapers Clubs
Executors/Administrators
Counties
Carriers
Double
Jeopardy
Grand
Jury
Extradition/Detainers
Licenses
Stipulations
Controlled
Weapons Substances
Convicts
Homicide
Bonds
Disorderly
Conduct
Gaming
Administrative Law/Procedure
Commerce
Indictment/Information
Damages
Death Public Utilities
States Treaties
Master/Servant
Child Assault/Battery
Support
Pleading
Arrest
Searches/Seizures
Navigable Waters
Forfeitures
Employers Liability
Adoption
Nuisance Statutes Property
Torts
District/Prosecuting Attorneys
Interpleader
Principal/Agent
Divorce
Interest
Pensions
Larceny
Abatement/Revival
Seamen
Admiralty
Copyrights/IntellectualMarriage
Property
Shipping
Rape
Negligence
Attachment
Bail
Process
Garnishment
Trusts
Bribery
Debtor/Creditor
Perjury
Contracts
Trial Law
Public Contracts
Criminal
Bills/Notes RICO
ExecutionRelease
Pilots
Compromise/Settlement
Child Custody
Fines
Towns
Husband/Wife
Collision
Arbitration
Landlord/Tenant
Sequestration
Animals
Covenants
Domicile
Robbery
Adverse Possession
Fires Accountants
ContributionFederal Courts
Exemptions Pretrial Procedure
Arson
Notaries
Malicious Prosecution
False Imprisonment
Payment
Constitutional Law Factors
Warehousemen
Game
Forcible Entry/Detainer
Consumer
Credit
Parties
Quieting Title
Oath
Receiving Stolen Goods
Consumer Protection
United States Marshals
Time Liens
Vendor/Purchaser
Suicide
Descent/Distribution
Implied/Constructive Contracts
Parent/Child
Common Law
Woods/Forests
Trover/Conversion
Guardian/Ward
False Pretenses
Sales
Prohibition
Assignments
Parliamentary Law
Partnership
Embezzlement
New Trial
Innkeepers
Products Liability
Specific Performance
Asylums
Annuities
Bigamy
Military Justice
MortgagesVenue
Customs/Usages
Secured Transactions
Indemnity
Sheriffs/Constables
Treason
Election
of Remedies Deposits
in Court
Boundaries
Escape Replevin
Canals
Notice
Wharves
Levees/Flood
Control
Exchanges
Towage Receivers
Urban Railroads
Estates in Property
Accord/Satisfaction
Set-off/Counterclaim
Assumpsit, Action of
Slaves
SubrogationExplosives
Easements
Homestead
Forgery
Mechanics Liens
Inspection
Motions
Cancellation of Instruments
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Dimension 2
Business Matters (Property)
Criminal Matters (Life & Limb)
7
Bigamy = Crime
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 bastardy
when they move elsewhere. Estin v. Estin, 334 U.S. 541
(1948).
Abortion/Birth Control
Annuities
Bigamy
Mortgages
Venue
Indemnity
Election
of Remedies
Sheriffs/Constables
Boundaries Deposits in Court
Canals
Wharves
Levees/Flood
Control
Exchanges
Towage Receivers
Estates in Property
Accord/Satisfaction
Set-off/Counterclaim
Assumpsit, Action of
SubrogationExplosives
Easements
Homestead
Mechanics Liens
Weights/Measures
Customs/Usages
Secured Transactions
Military Justice
Asylums
Treason
Escape
Weights/Measures
Notice
Urban Railroads
Replevin
Slaves
Forgery
Lotteries
Gifts
Principal/Surety
Penalties
Account
Tenancy
in Common
Joint Tenancy
Good Will
Dower/Curtesy
Account, Action on
Inspection
Motions
Cancellation of Instruments
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Chemical Depende
Criminal Matters (Life & Limb)
ElectionsSchools
Libel/Slander
Costs
Telecommunications
Food
Colleges/Universities
Banks/Banking
Attorney/Client
Declaratory Judgment
Trespass
Health
Judges
Mental Health
Citizens Prisons
Cemeteries
Armed
Services
War/National
Emergency
Municipal
Corporations
Intoxicating
Liquors
Sunday
Officers/Public
Employees
Census
Labor of
Relations
Militia
Obscenity
Removal
Cases
Agriculture
Evidence
Estoppel
Mandamus
Pardon/Parole
Appeal/Error
Environmental
Law
Unlawful
Assembly
Extortion/ThreatsClerks
Civil RightsAttorney General
Aliens
Breach
of the
Peace
Corporations
of Courts
Indians
Associations
Territories
DistrictCustoms
of
Columbia
Action
Charities
Duties
Wills
Internal
Revenue
Aviation
Trade
Regulation
Children
Out-Of-Wedlock
Records
Gas
Injunction
International
Law
Fraud
Infants
Taxation
Judgment
Postal Prostitution
Service
Mines/Minerals
Workers
Compensation
Automobiles
Hawkers/Peddlers
Limitation of Actions
ContemptJury Witnesses
Commodity
FuturesCourts
Trading Regulation
Habeas Corpus
Escheat
United States Magistrates
Theaters/Shows
Insurance
Patents
Insurrection/Sedition
Vagrancy
Conspiracy
Eminent
Domain
Certiorari
Highways
Religious Societies
Bankruptcy
Zoning/Planning
Electricity
SecuritiesMonopolies
Regulation
Building/Loan
Associations
Railroads
Equity
United
StatesFish
Waters/Water
Courses
Kidnapping
Civil Procedure
Sentencing/Punishment
Obstructing
Justice
Public
Lands Federal
Amicus
Curiae
Sodomy
Champerty/Maintenance
Newspapers
Executors/Administrators
Counties
Carriers
Double
Jeopardy
Clubs
Extradition/Detainers
Grand
Jury
Licenses
Stipulations
Controlled
Weapons Substances
Convicts
Homicide
Bonds
Disorderly
Conduct
Gaming
Administrative Law/Procedure
Commerce
Indictment/Information
Damages
Death Public Utilities
States Treaties
Master/Servant
Child Assault/Battery
Support Searches/Seizures
Pleading
Arrest
Navigable
Waters
Forfeitures
Employers
Liability
Adoption
Torts
Nuisance Statutes Property
District/Prosecuting Attorneys
Interpleader
Principal/Agent
Divorce
Interest
Pensions
Larceny
Abatement/Revival
Seamen
Admiralty
Copyrights/IntellectualMarriage
Property
Shipping
Negligence
Bail
Attachment
Garnishment
Process
Trusts
Debtor/Creditor
Bribery
Contracts
Perjury Rape
Trial
Criminal
Law
Public
Contracts
Bills/Notes RICO
ExecutionRelease
Pilots
Compromise/Settlement
Fines
Child Custody
Towns
Husband/Wife
Collision
Arbitration
Landlord/Tenant
Sequestration
Animals
Covenants
Domicile
Robbery
Adverse Possession
Fires
ContributionFederal Courts
Exemptions Pretrial Procedure
Arson
Accountants
Notaries
Malicious Prosecution
False Imprisonment
Payment
Constitutional Law Factors
Warehousemen
Game
Forcible Entry/Detainer
Consumer Credit
Parties
Quieting Title
Oath
Receiving Stolen Goods
Consumer Protection
United
States
Marshals
Time Liens
Descent/Distribution
Vendor/Purchaser
Suicide
Implied/Constructive Contracts
Common Law
Parent/Child
Woods/Forests
Trover/Conversion
Guardian/Ward
False Pretenses
Sales
Prohibition
Assignments
Parliamentary Law
Embezzlement
Partnership
New Trial
Innkeepers
Products Liability
Specific Performance
Business Matters (Property)
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Dimension 1
0.8
1.0
Social Security/Public Welfare
Master/Servant g
States
Pleading
Navigable
Waters
Employers
Liability
Statutes Interpleader
Torts
Nuisance
Property
Principal/Agent
Interest
Pensions Divorce
Abatement/Revival
Seamen
Admiralty
Copyrights/IntellectualMarriage
Property
Shipping
egligence
Attachment
Process
Debtor/Creditor
Trusts
Contracts
Release
Bills/Notes
Execution
RICO
Pilots
Compromise/Settlement
Towns
Husband/Wife
Collision
rbitration
Landlord/Tenant
Sequestration
Animals
Covenants
Domicile
Adverse Possession
ContributionFederal Courts
Exemptions Pre
Constitutional Law Factors
Payment
Ware
Game
Consumer C
Title
Consumer Protection
Time Liens
Descent/Distributi
ser
Constructive
Contracts
Woods/Forests
Sales
Assignments
Prohibition
Parliamentary Law
Partne
iability
Specific Performance
Annuities
Bigamy
Custo
Mortgages
Venue
Indemnity
Sheriffs/Constables
Election
of Remedies
Boundaries Deposits in Court
Canals
Levees/Flood
Control
Wharves
Exchanges
owage Receivers
Estates in Property
Accord/Satisfaction
Set-off/Counterclaim
Assumpsit, Action of
SubrogationExplosives
Easements
Homestead
Forg
Mechanics Liens
Lotteries
But, arises in a
divorce case in
which alimony, a
property interest, is
contested.
Dimension 2
2004 Supreme Court Term West Topic Space
(Procedural Topics Removed)
8
2004 Supreme Court Term West Topic Space
Criminal Matters (Life & Limb)
(Procedural Topics Removed)
Business Matters (Property)
1.5
Doctrinal (red)
Liens
Good Will
Mortgages
Husband/Wife
Customs/Usages
1.0
Homestead
Partnership
Bills/Notes
Vendor/Purchaser
Replevin
Trusts
Wills Subrogation
Exemptions
Descent/Distribution
Debtor/Creditor
Bigamy
Weights/Measures
Estates
Property
AdverseinPossession
Marriage
Gifts
Divorce
Payment
Taxation
Bonds
Waters/Water Courses
Joint Tenancy
Tenancy
in Common
District/Prosecuting
Statutes
Searches/Seizures Attorneys
Secured Transactions
Game
Double
Jeopardy
Controlled
Substances
Boundaries
Parent/Child
Interest
Federal Courts
Witnesses
Criminal Law
Attorney General Principal/Surety
Account, Action
on
Constitutional Law
Licenses
Militia Execution
Woods/Forests
IndiansInsuranceBankruptcy
Municipal Corporations
Products Liability
Notice Indictment/Information
Navigable
Waters
Internal Revenue Towns
Mines/Minerals
Habeas
Corpus Sentencing/Punishment
Highways
Fraud Escheat
Quieting Title
Homicide
Chemical
Dependents
Judgment
Prostitution
Officers/Public
Employees
Courts
Dower/Curtesy
Armed
Services
Penalties Receivers
Motions
CountiesGrand
Perjury
Jury
Conspiracy
United States Elections
Agriculture
Mental HealthMechanicsPensions
Attachment
Territories
Weapons Embezzlement
Fines
Liens
Election of Remedies Forfeitures
ObstructingCitizens
Justice
International Law
Indemnity
Schools
Consumer
Protection
States Law/Procedure
ContemptJury
Administrative
War/National
Emergency
Amicus
Curiae
Arrest
Religious Societies
Treason
Judges
Insurrection/Sedition
Eminent DomainCorporations
Charities
Associations
Injunction
Intoxicating
Liquors
Common
Public Law
Lands
United StatesBuilding/Loan
MagistratesSales
Rape
Pardon/Parole
SocialNewspapers
Security/Public
Welfare
Federal
Civil ProcedureCivil Rights
Gaming
Inspection
Explosives
Postal
Service
Property
Aliens
Public
Contracts
Executors/Administrators
Sodomy
Evidence
Malicious
Prisons
Commerce
Breach
of
the Peace
Extradition/Detainers
DistrictProsecution
of Columbia
Notaries
Accountants
Children
Out-Of-Wedlock
Declaratory Judgment
Interpleader
Electricity
Costs
Adoption
Limitation of Actions
Asylums
Suicide
Colleges/Universities
Records
Infants
Banks/Banking
Contracts
False
Pretenses
Customs
Duties
Larceny
Aviation
Sheriffs/Constables
Automobiles
United
States Marshals
Receiving
StolenAnnuities
Goods
Bribery
Death
Innkeepers
Animals
Obscenity
Environmental
Law
Assignments
Estoppel
Child
Gas
Fires
Telecommunications
Disorderly Conduct
Child
Support
False
Imprisonment
Nuisance
BailCustody
Libel/Slander
Clerks of Courts
Domicile
Fish
Guardian/Ward
Appeal/Error Attorney/Client
Time
Health
Robbery
Garnishment
Cancellation
of
Instruments
Levees/Flood
Control
Vagrancy
Action Urban Railroads Zoning/Planning
Trover/Conversion
Oath Railroads
Assault/Battery
Compromise/Settlement
Abatement/Revival
Process
Exchanges
Landlord/Tenant
Pilots
Removal
of Cases
Principal/Agent
Master/Servant
Theaters/Shows
Carriers
Unlawful
Assembly
Arbitration Trespass
Slaves
Forcible
Entry/Detainer
Account
Pleading
Trial
Food Easements
Equity
Kidnapping
PatentsHawkers/Peddlers
Escape
LaborWarehousemen
Relations
ClubsPublicLaw
Extortion/Threats
Venue
Accord/Satisfaction
Parliamentary
StipulationsNew Trial
Utilities
Covenants
Implied/Constructive
Contracts
Damages
Admiralty
Cemeteries
Consumer
Credit
Convicts
Workers
Compensation
Trade
Regulation
Seamen
Torts
Negligence
Collision
Abortion/Birth
Control
Mandamus
RICO
Deposits in Court
Monopolies
Towage
Canals
Securities
Regulation Prohibition
Certiorari
Wharves
Sequestration
Sunday
Employers Liability
Assumpsit,Arson
Action of
Pretrial Procedure
Associations
Shipping
Lotteries
Set-off/Counterclaim
Release Census
Champerty/Maintenance
Copyrights/Intellectual
Property
Contribution
Forgery
Specific Performance
-0.5
0.0
Dimension 6
0.5
Parties
Military Justice
Treaties
-1.0
Factors
Commodity Futures Trading Regulation
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Dimension 5
Procedural (blue)
9
Family Obligations
Bigamy
1.0
Divorce
Homestead
Marriage
Estates in Property
Husband/Wife
Descent/Distribution
Accord/Satisfaction
0.0
-0.5
Dimension 8
0.5
Tenancy
in Common
Joint Tenancy
Escheat
Time
Parent/Child
Process Prohibition Pensions
Removal of Cases
Compromise/Settlement
Parties
Exemptions
Child Custody
Annuities
Release
Stipulations
Mandamus
Double Jeopardy Malicious
Dower/Curtesy
Prosecution
Customs/Usages
Amicus Property
Curiae
Account
Copyrights/Intellectual
Infants
RICO
Equity
Children Out-Of-Wedlock
Sentencing/Punishment
Sheriffs/Constables
Child
Support
Monopolies
Executors/Administrators
Woods/Forests
Forgery
Domicile
Charities
Habeas Corpus
Exchanges
Interpleader Fraud
Judgment
Employers
Property Liability
Boundaries
Contempt
Indictment/Information
Certiorari
Patents
Trusts
Conspiracy
Insurance
ConstitutionalInsurrection/Sedition
Law
Weapons
Injunction
Criminal
Law
Pretrial
Procedure
United States
Magistrates
Jury
Trial
Damages
Extradition/Detainers
Attorney/Client
Venue
Death
Bonds
Master/Servant
Courts
Pleading
Specific
Commodity Futures
TradingCosts
Regulation
Schools
Deposits
inPerformance
Court
Securities
Assumpsit,
ActionClerks
ofBail of Courts Parliamentary
New Trial Garnishment
Civil RightsRegulation
Law
Sequestration
Banks/Banking
Champerty/Maintenance
Abortion/Birth
Control
Grand Jury
Civil
Procedure
Larceny
Homicide Secured Transactions
Limitation
ofFederal
Actions
Mental Health
Census
Debtor/Creditor
Gifts Corporations
Judges
Declaratory
Judgment
Embezzlement
Militia
Federal
Courts
Workers
Compensation
Bankruptcy
Labor
Relations
Pardon/Parole
Convicts
Set-off/Counterclaim
Sodomy
Appeal/Error
AliensEasements
Admiralty
Seamen
Motions
Arbitration
Slaves
Counties
Escape
Action
Nuisance Consumer Protection
Social
Security/Public
Welfare
Kidnapping
Religious
United
States
Health
Fines
Armed
Services
Sunday
Colleges/Universities
Abatement/Revival
CovenantsSocieties
Zoning/Planning
Public Utilities Trade Regulation
Execution
Factors
Contribution
Witnesses
Prisons Lotteries
Clubs
Attachment
Robbery
Sales Control
Replevin
Levees/Flood
Vagrancy
Consumer
Credit
Statutes
Guardian/Ward
Evidence
Associations
Oath
Elections
ReceivingConduct
Stolen Goods
Forcible
Entry/Detainer
Libel/Slander
Obscenity
Hawkers/Peddlers
Administrative
Law/Procedure
Disorderly
Interest
States
Extortion/Threats
United
States Marshals
Bills/Notes
Estoppel
Trover/Conversion
Cemeteries
Perjury
Attorney
General
Obstructing
Commerce Trespass
Treason
Gas Justice
Canals
Adoption
Internal
Revenue
Newspapers
Wharves
District of Columbia
Shipping
Searches/Seizures
Gaming
War/National
Emergency
Unlawful Assembly
False
Imprisonment
Postal
Service
Breach
of the Peace
Arrest
International
Law
Controlled
Substances
District/Prosecuting
Attorneys
Quieting
Title
Municipal Corporations
Records
Fish
Contracts
Treaties Courses
Adverse Possession
False Pretenses
Cancellation
Torts
Officers/Public
Employees
Agriculture
Waters/Water
Asylumsof Instruments
Innkeepers
Negligence
Prostitution
Public
Contracts
Railroads
Chemical
Dependents
Suicide
Telecommunications
Arson
Rape
Pilots
Products
Liability
Forfeitures
Carriers
Accountants
Notaries
Mines/Minerals
Taxation
Inspection Public Penalties
Theaters/Shows
Lands Navigable Waters
Environmental Law
Principal/Agent
Aviation
Territories
Citizens
Electricity
Indemnity
Indians
Highways
Eminent
Domain
Towns
Building/Loan
Associations
Customs
Duties LicensesAutomobiles
Assault/Battery
Intoxicating
Liquors
Common
Law
Warehousemen
Landlord/Tenant
Implied/Constructive Collision
Contracts
Urban Railroads
Bribery
Account, Action on
Food
Election of
Remedies
Animals
Liens
Military Justice
Mortgages
Wills Vendor/Purchaser
Notice
Fires
Game
Good Will
Partnership
Explosives
Towage
Receivers
-1.0
Weights/Measure
Assignments
Payment
Subrogation
Mechanics Liens
Principal/Surety
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
Dimension 7
Business Obligations
Principal Components Analysis – Just Doctrinal (Aggregated to Law School Topics)
PUBLIC LAND LAW
MARITIME LAW
WATER LAW
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
SECURITIES REGULATION
0.5
CONSUMER PROTECTION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
BANKING LAW
TAXATION
OIL AND GAS LAW
PRODUCTS LIABIL
LAND USE LAW
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
TORTS
ANTITRUST LAW
LABOR LAW
PROPERTY LAW
NATIVE PEOPLES LAW
0.0
CONTRACTS
COMMUNICATIONS LAW
HEALTH LAW
CREDITORS AND DEBTORS' RIGHTS
SECURED TRANSACTIONS
INSURANCE LAW
BUSINSS ASSOCIATIONS
INTERNATIONAL LAW
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LAW
MILITARY LAW
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
COMMERCIAL LAW
ELECTION LAW
-0.5
FAMILY LAW
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
WILLS AND TRUSTS
IMMIGRATION LAW
JUVENILE JUSTICE
CIVIL RIGHTS LAW
ESTATE PLANNING
EDUCATION LAW
CRIMINAL LAW
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
-1.0
Dimension 4
ENTERTAINMENT LAW
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
Dimension 3
10
PUBLIC LAND LAW
MARITIME LAW
Family Law Professors:
WATER LAW
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
SECURITIES REGULATION
CONSUMER PROTECTION
BANKING LAW
TAXATION
OIL AND GAS LAW
LAND USE LAW
PROPERTY LAW
Professor Stephen A. Conrad
B.A., Haverford College; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University; J.D., Yale University.
Attorney, Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
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
PRODUCTS LIABIL
about a school of eighteenth-century philosophy that greatly influenced the American
Founding, especially the framing
of our
federal Constitution and early Supreme Court
WORKERS'
COMPENSATION
jurisprudence.
As a student at the Yale Law School, Conrad pursued the connections
TORTS
LABOR
LAW
ANTITRUST
LAW
between his history background and legal scholarship.
NATIVE PEOPLES LAW
ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Professor Julia Lamber
COMMUNICATIONS LAW
HEALTH LAW
CONTRACTS
LAW
BA 1969, DePauw University; JD 1972, Indiana
University.
Note Editor, IndianaINSURANCE
Law
BUSINSS
ASSOCIATIONS
CREDITORS AND DEBTORS' RIGHTS
Journal. Attorney, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1972-75.
SECURED TRANSACTIONS
Faculty and Assistant Dean, University of Nebraska College of Law, 1977-79.
INTERNATIONAL LAW
Member, Order of the Coif. The former IU dean for women's affairs and a leading
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LAW
scholar in employment discrimination law, Professor Lamber brings a wealth of
administrative experience and scholarship to the classroom. She has taught
MILITARY LAW
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
COMMERCIAL
LAW
Administrative
Law, Civil Rights Statutes, Employment Discrimination, Family Law,
ELECTION LAW
FAMILY LAW
Women and the Law, and the Federal Courts Clinic.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
WILLS AND TRUSTS
IMMIGRATION LAW
JUVENILE JUSTICE
CIVIL RIGHTS LAW
ESTATE PLANNING
EDUCATION LAW
CRIMINAL LAW
Professor Aviva A. Orenstein
AB 1981, Cornell University; JD 1986, Cornell Law School. Articles Editor, Cornell
Law Review. Law Clerk, Hon. Edward R. Becker, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third
Circuit, 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
CRIMINAL
PROCEDURE
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 AdvocacyADMINISTRATIVE
Clinic, supervising
law students who
LAW
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.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Harvard Law Review Supreme Court Statistics
July 2, 2005 New York Times
11
Ideological Landscape of the Justices (1994 – 2003)
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.)
Voting Together > 50%
(Non-Unanimous Cases 1994 -2003 Supreme Court Terms)
Voting Together > 49%
(Non-Unanimous Cases 1994 -2003 Supreme Court Terms)
12
20
1994-2003 Non-Unanimous Cases (MDS using R)
ohn Paul Stevens
Clarence Thomas
0
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
David Hacktt Souter
Anthony M. Kennedy
-10
William H. Rehnquist
Stephen G. Breyer
Sandra Day O'Connor
-20
m3ds$points[, 1:2][,2]
10
Antonin Scalia
-40
-20
0
20
40
m3ds$points[, 1:2][,1]
Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)
© 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.
13
Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)
10 Highest Cumulative Voting Percentages
(1956 – 2005 Terms)
# Cases
Together
Justice 1
Justice 2
%
O’Connor
Roberts
91
23
Warren
Marshall
88
178
Reed
Clark
85
40
Fortas
Marshall
85
132
Warren
Brennan
82
1406
Scalia
Roberts
82
78
Roberts
Alito
82
39
Warren
Fortas
80
391
Kennedy
Roberts
79
78
Brennan
Fortas
79
394
91%
Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)
88%
10 Highest Cumulative Voting Percentages
(1956 – 2005 Terms)
# Cases
Together
Justice 1
Justice 2
%
O’Connor
Roberts
91
23
Warren
Marshall
88
178
Reed
Clark
85
40
Fortas
Marshall
85
132
Warren
Brennan
82
1406
Scalia
Roberts
82
78
Roberts
Alito
82
39
Warren
Fortas
80
391
Kennedy
Roberts
79
78
Brennan
Fortas
79
394
14
Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)
28%
12 Lowest Cumulative Voting
Percentages (1956 – 2005 Terms)
Justice 1
Justice 2
%
#
Cases
Douglas
Rehnquist
28
513
Douglas
Burger
35
792
Douglas
Blackmun
36
695
Douglas
Powell
37
495
Frankfurter
Douglas
38
588
Douglas
Harlan II
39
1633
Marshall
Rehnquist
41
2819
Douglas
Burton
41
231
Black
Harlan II
41
1628
Blackmun
Thomas
42
284
Brennan
Rehnquist
42
2706
Douglas
Whittaker
42
523
Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)
12 Lowest Cumulative Voting
Percentages (1956 – 2005 Terms)
8 of the 12 Lowest CoVoting Percentages are
with Douglas!
Justice 1
Justice 2
%
#
Cases
Douglas
Rehnquist
28
513
Douglas
Burger
35
792
Douglas
Blackmun
36
695
Douglas
Powell
37
495
Frankfurter
Douglas
38
588
Douglas
Harlan II
39
1633
Marshall
Rehnquist
41
2819
Douglas
Burton
41
231
Black
Harlan II
41
1628
Blackmun
Thomas
42
284
Brennan
Rehnquist
42
2706
Douglas
Whittaker
42
523
15
Justices of the United States Supreme Court (1956 – 2005 Terms)
Rehnquist Court 6
Significant Cases Rehnquist Court 6:
(Aug. 3, 1994 to Sept. 28, 2005)
• U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton – no state term
limits for Congresspersons
(6th different composition of nine
Justices during the tenure of Chief
Justice William H. Rehnquist.)
• 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
16
= Birth Control
= Abortion
2006
2007
2000
1997
1992
1988
1989
1990
1986
1983
1979
1979
1980
1981
1975
1976
1977
1971
1972
1973
1965
26 “Abortion and Birth Control” Cases in the S.Ct.
Timeline Layout
Timeline Layout with Citation Inter-linkages
17
Relational Infrastructure of the Law
(Depth of Treatment)
West Depth of Treatment
= Examined
= Discussed
= Cited
= Mentioned
18
West Depth of Treatment
= Examined
= Discussed
= Cited
West Depth of Treatment
= Examined
= Discussed
19
West Depth of Treatment
= Examined
West Depth of Treatment
” = Quoting
20
Opinions that Quote from Roe v. Wade
West Depth of Treatment
” = Quoting
Relational Infrastructure of the Law
(Case Status)
21
West Depth of Treatment
= 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
22
1970 Term – Blackmun / Burger First Together
10
m3ds$points[, 1:2][,2]
20
30
Black
Douglas
0
Harlan
Burger
Blackmun
Marshall
-10
Brennan
White
Stewart
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
m3ds$points[, 1:2][,1]
1985 Term – Their Last Together
10
0
White
Rehnquist
O'Connor
Powell
Burger
Brennan
Blackmun
-10
m3ds$points[, 1:2][,2]
20
30
Stevens
Marshall
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
m3ds$points[, 1:2][,1]
23
ASIS&T Thesaurus – First Three Levels
(no rigor in spatial layout)
Path of Interest
24
Most of ISSI 2007
25
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's
law, 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)
26
THE END
27