CASE BRIEFING FORMAT

A case brief is a summary of the court’s opinion in a particular case. The brief should be
clear, concise, and should include only necessary information.

CASE NAME
Court, Date

Facts: A summary of the relevant, applicable facts in narrative form.

understand events that resulted in the case being taken to court and those
that the court used in arriving at its conclusion.

Issue: The issue is the legal question that the court had to resolve in this case.
Example: Did Bill’s act of throwing the plate at Bob constitute a battery?

Rule: The rule is the general principle of law that the court applied to resolve
the legal issue (question).
Example: Battery is an act intended to cause harmful or offensive contact
with the person of another, which directly or indirectly results in such
contact.

Analysis: A discussion of how the court arrived at its decision. This includes
explaining the court’s reasoning or rationale.

Note: This is also referred to as the “application”: how the court

applied the rule to the facts.

Conclusion: This is a result of the court applying the rule to the facts of this case,
which will answer the issue (legal question).

Example: Because Bill intentionally threw the plate at Bob, causing Bob’s
injuries, Bill’s act constituted a battery.

Note: This is also referred to as the “holding” or the “decision.” While

you are learning how to brief cases, use “conclusion.” Do not confuse this
with the disposition. The disposition is what the court did with the case
(affirmed, remanded, etc.).

Note: For some of your classes, you might need to include a separate “Procedural Facts”
section. Your professors will guide you.

RS Revised 8.25.16