The Art of Case

Digesting

Case

digestis a way of summarizing

cases coming from courts. These cases
mainly contain decision on certainmatters
since the duty of our court is to settle
controversy and dispute. Case digest is
commonly practice among people who
study law.Sincecasedigesting shortensa
very wordy case but still keeping its
important details, it is but necessary to
learntheproperwayofdoingsuch.

definition

Heading- This contains the title of your

case, source (GR No xxx or 21 SCRA 52)
anddate
Ponente- The name of the person who
arrangedthefinalformatofthedecision.It
usually appears before the body of the full
casebegins.

Parts of a Case Digest

Facts- This includes the important events

or circumstances that take place in the
case. It must be noted that the names of
persons involved and necessary dates and
placesmustbementionedinthispart.

Parts of a Case Digest

Issue-Thematterbroughtuponthecourtforits
resolution. It is possible that several issues are
present in a single case. Your issue would now
depend upon the subject concerned for that
digest. For instance, your subject in Labor Law
required you to make a digest on a particular
case. However, this case aimed in resolving two
issues,laborandpoliticalone.Withthisathand,
it is logical to say that the issue which must be
chosenistheoneconnectedtoyoursubject.

Parts of a Case Digest

Held- Also known as ruling and decision.

This is the judgment given by your court
which must answer the issue you listed.
The legal basis in which their decision was
taken must appear in this part.

Parts of a Case Digest

1. HAVE A COPY OF THE FULL TEXTOF THE CASE.

Because of modernized technology, it has been easier

for us to search the web when we want to locate
something. For the full text of cases, the best source
in the internet you may visit is lawphil.net, highly
recommended, its frequently used actually among law
students, or, you may just visit your law library and
search
for
the
SCRA
number
given.
Once you have it, make sure it is really the case you
are looking for. Check the title and importantly, the
date because some cases may have the same title but
different dates.

Tips on case digesting

2. MAKE A SCAN OF THE PAGES

Before you start, prepare your notes, pen, and your
highlighter.
You may not read it directly, instead, allow yourself
to get familiar with it, dont cram or panic thinking
of many cases to read. Read the title, the first page
of it and you may proceed with the last page
regarding the ruling of the Supreme Court. Once
you have an idea what the case is all about, read
the whole case for your better understanding.

Tips on case digesting

3. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW UNDER WHATLAW SUBJECT IS

THE CASE YOU ARE READING

Sometimes, first timers are not sure of what they are

doing, or what to do with the case. Bear in mind that
even before you read the case, you should know under
what doctrine or principle of law the case is about. So
that after reading, you may relate the case to said
doctrine or principle. With this, you may have a better
grasp of the case when you yourself can formulate the
main issue of the case not just referring with what is
mentioned. This is because cases may have many issues,
but focus on what is related with the doctrine or principle
of
law.

Tips on case digesting

4.
REMEMBER
CONCERN".I

THE

"ANGLE

OF

ifyouaredigestingforaConstitutionalLaw
subject, ignore the issues that do not
concern you. Read the case with particular
interest on how the Constitution was
applied.

Tips on case digesting

5. TAKE

NOTE

Focus! Otherwise, you may find yourself

reading the case again and again,though
that usually happens to first timers. It
would
require
mastery
also.

Tips on case digesting

6. DONOT DEVOUR ALL FACTS. YOU DO

NOT NEED THEM.
You can try applying the reverse analysis
approach.Lookattherulingandthenfindout
how the Court arrived at the ruling. The
SupremeCourtthrowsoutmayirrelevantfacts
becauseitisnotatrieroffacts.Donottryto
smell out every fact if it did not even concern
theJustices

Tips on case digesting