Corpus Juris Secundum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Corpus Juris Secundum (C.J.S.) is an encyclopedia of U.S. law (see Secondary authority). Its full title is Corpus Juris Secundum: Complete Restatement Of The Entire American Law As Developed By All Reported Cases (1936- ) It contains an alphabetical arrangement of legal topics as developed by U.S. federal and state cases (1658-date).

The CJS is an authoritative 20th century American legal encyclopedia that provides a clear statement of each area of law including areas of the law that are evolving and provides footnoted citations to case law and other primary sources of law. Named after the 6th century Corpus Juris Civilis of Emperor Justinian I of the Byzantine Empire, the first codification of Roman law and civil law. (The name Corpus Juris literally means "body of the law"; Secundum denotes the second edition of the encyclopedia, which was originally issued as Corpus Juris by the American Law Book Company.)

The CJS is published by Thomson West, part of the Thomson Legal & Regulatory division of The Thomson Corporation. It is updated with annual supplements to reflect modern developments in the law. Entire volumes are revised and reissued periodically as the supplements become large enough. It is also on Westlaw.