Landmark Legal History Unveiled: US Government Publishing Office Releases Decades of Supreme Court Decisions Online
Tokyo, Japan – July 15, 2025 – A monumental step forward in legal accessibility has been announced today by the National Diet Library’s Current Awareness Portal. The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has officially released a comprehensive collection of Federal Supreme Court case decisions, spanning from 1790 to 1991, on its “GovInfo” platform. This release makes nearly two centuries of the highest court’s rulings freely available to the public, promising to revolutionize research for legal scholars, historians, and citizens alike.
What is GovInfo?
GovInfo is the official website of the U.S. Government Publishing Office, serving as a gateway to a vast array of federal government publications. It aims to provide free public access to official publications from all three branches of the U.S. government. This latest addition significantly expands its legal resources, offering an unprecedented level of detail and historical context.
The Significance of This Release
For generations, accessing comprehensive collections of Supreme Court decisions required consulting physical volumes, often found in specialized law libraries. While some digital archives existed, this GPO release marks the first time such a vast historical span of official Supreme Court records has been made so readily and freely available through a single, authoritative source.
This initiative addresses several key areas of importance:
- Enhanced Legal Research: Students, lawyers, academics, and researchers can now conduct in-depth legal research with greater ease and efficiency. The ability to search and analyze decisions from the foundational years of the United States’ legal system to the late 20th century provides invaluable insights into the evolution of American jurisprudence.
- Historical Understanding: The collection offers a rich resource for historians seeking to understand the social, political, and economic contexts that shaped landmark legal rulings. These decisions offer a direct window into the debates and societal challenges of different eras.
- Increased Transparency and Public Access: By making these critical legal documents publicly available, the GPO is fostering greater transparency in the judicial system. Citizens can engage directly with the legal principles that govern their lives, promoting a more informed and engaged populace.
- Preservation of Legal Heritage: The digital preservation of these historical documents ensures their long-term accessibility and protects them from the physical deterioration that can affect printed materials.
What Does This Collection Include?
The released collection encompasses the official published opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court, covering a critical period in American history. This includes:
- Early American Jurisprudence: Decisions from the court’s formative years, establishing fundamental legal principles and shaping the early republic.
- Key Historical Periods: Rulings from pivotal moments such as the Civil War, the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the Civil Rights Movement, demonstrating the court’s role in navigating major national transformations.
- Landmark Cases: Access to decisions that have had a profound and lasting impact on American society, covering areas like individual rights, governmental powers, and economic regulation.
How to Access the Collection
The entire collection is available for public access on the GovInfo website (www.govinfo.gov). Users can expect to find advanced search functionalities, allowing them to filter by date, keyword, justice, and other relevant criteria, making it easier to locate specific cases or explore trends over time.
Looking Ahead
This release by the U.S. Government Publishing Office is a testament to the ongoing efforts to democratize access to government information. As digital technologies continue to evolve, the public can anticipate further enhancements and expansions to the resources available on GovInfo, further strengthening the foundation of an informed and engaged citizenry. This move by the GPO sets a powerful precedent for the accessibility of vital legal and historical records worldwide.
米国政府出版局（GPO）、1790年から1991年までの連邦最高裁判所の判例を収録した公式判例集を“GovInfo”上で公開
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At 2025-07-15 10:01, ‘米国政府出版局（GPO）、1790年から1991年までの連邦最高裁判所の判例を収録した公式判例集を“GovInfo”上で公開’ was published according to カレントアウェアネス・ポータル. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.