Legal Definitions - A

A is an abbreviation for the Atlantic Reporter.

The Atlantic Reporter is a series of law books that publishes the opinions and decisions of appellate courts from specific states in the northeastern United States. These states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. Legal professionals, such as lawyers, judges, and law students, use the Atlantic Reporter to find, cite, and research case law from these jurisdictions.

Here are some examples of how "A" or "Atlantic Reporter" might be used:

• Example 1: Citing a Precedent in a Legal Brief

  A lawyer drafting a legal brief for a case in Pennsylvania might include a citation like Smith v. Jones, 123 A.2d 456 (Pa. 1978). This citation refers to a specific court decision. The "A.2d" part indicates that the case can be found in the second series of the Atlantic Reporter, volume 123, starting on page 456. This allows the opposing counsel and the court to easily locate and review the precedent being referenced.

• Example 2: Legal Research by a Law Student

  A law student in New Jersey is researching a property dispute and needs to find relevant case law from their state. They might search a legal database for cases published in the "Atlantic Reporter" to ensure they are reviewing binding precedents from New Jersey's appellate courts. The search results would then display cases with citations including "A." or "A.2d," indicating their source.

• Example 3: A Judge Reviewing Case Law

  Before issuing a ruling, a judge in Maryland might review previous decisions from the Maryland Court of Appeals to ensure consistency with established legal principles. They would consult cases published in the Atlantic Reporter, often referring to specific volumes and page numbers (e.g., "See Doe v. Roe, 789 A.3d 123 (Md. 2010)") to understand how similar issues have been decided in the past.