Do encapsulated case citators identify cases that are no longer good law?

Encapsulated case citators are designed to summarize and provide references for case law, indicating how cases have been treated by subsequent decisions. The key function of a citator is to track the cases that cite a given case and to highlight how they relate—whether they affirm, reverse, or overrule the original case.

The correct answer indicates that encapsulated case citators do not outright identify cases that are no longer good law. Instead, they provide a broader range of information about how a case has been cited and treated in future rulings. While some citators might indicate if a case has been overruled or is otherwise not considered good law, not all encapsulated citations follow this protocol.

Thus, while some databases or citation tools may provide warnings or alerts about cases that have been adversely treated, encapsulated case citators themselves do not inherently serve as a definitive tool for this purpose. Understanding the specific function of citators assists legal researchers in determining which tools to use for verifying the standing of a case within the legal framework.

This implies that legal researchers should be cautious and not rely solely on encapsulated case citators to ascertain the validity of a case without consulting additional resources or databases specifically focused on the current status of legal authority.