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Indiana University Studies 
only a statement of propositions of law for which the case 
stands. Headnotes are generally the materials used by 
digesters, but they are not part of the opinion, and may be 
inaccurate or absolutely wrong, and therefore should not be 
substituted for the opinion. 
Statement of Case. The statement of the case, either by 
the reporter or by the court, usually precedes the opinion, but 
it is sometimes embodied in the opinion, either at the be- 
ginning, or middle, or end. The statement of the case should 
show the facts upon which the controversy turns, the manner 
in which the points in dispute were brought to the attention 
of the trial court, and the manner in which the case was 
brought to the reviewing court, if the report is an appellate 
court report. 
Arguments of Counsel. At the present time it is usual to 
print the names of counsel, either preceding or at the end of 
the opinion, but to omit all reference to their arguments, but 
most of the older reports contain an abstract of the arguments 
of counsel. 
Opinion. The opinion may be anonymous, when it is called 
in the United States a per curiam opinion. Ordinarily the 
opinion of the court is written by one member thereof, desig- 
nated by the presiding judge or determined in some other way, 
but the different members of the court may write separate 
concurring opinions; and when the judgment of the court is 
not unanimous the judges who disagree frequently write dis- 
senting opinions. There is no rule as to the length of the 
opinion or the style in which it shall be written. Two of our 
greatest judges have set opposite standards as to the length 
of opinions: Mansfield for shortness of opinions and Mar- 
shall for length. 
Disposition of Case. At the end of the opinion there is 
made a brief statement of the disposition of the case, as “Case 
remanded”, or “Judgment reversed”, or “Order affirmed”. 
Authority of a Case. Any principles announced by a court 
upon any, of the issues in a case are primary authority in 
any later cases involving the same issues in the same jurisdic- 
tion, and if the court is a court of last resort, inferior courts 
of the same jurisdiction will feel bound to follow them except 
under the most extraordinary circumstances. That is, an 
