Search Help

ALTERNATIVE (NON-GOOGLE) SEARCH ENGINE

For those who prefer to use the original (non-Google) search engine, it is available at: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/search/ethics_opinions.asp

Please note: The search tips and instructions provided below apply only to the new Google Search engine.

SEARCHING WITH THE NEW GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE

To start your search with the new Google Search engine (access by clicking on "Search ACJE Opinions" in the menu to the left), type search terms that describe your issue and click SEARCH. Documents in which your search terms are near each other will automatically display towards the top of your results list.

SEARCH LOGIC

1. To retrieve opinions including ALL of your terms.

To retrieve opinions that include ALL of your search terms, list your search terms with spaces between them in the search box.

Caution: Do not enter words such as “NEAR” or “NOT” unless you want to retrieve opinions that include them.

2. To retrieve opinions including ANY of your terms.

To retrieve opinions that include ANY of your search terms, type “OR” (in capital letters) between them.

3. To retrieve opinions that EXCLUDE one or more terms.

To retrieve opinions that exclude certain terms, insert a hyphen (-) before each term you want to exclude.

Example: A search for ART -MUSIC retrieves opinions that include the term “art”, but not the term “music”.

4. To retrieve opinions that include a PHRASE.

To retrieve opinions that include a phrase, enclose the phrase in quotation marks.

ADDITIONAL HINTS

1. Check your spelling.

2. You cannot retrieve opinions that include different forms of a search term by entering only part of the search term. The search engine does not recognize wildcards. Instead, search for opinions by entering different forms of a search term (e.g., singular and plural forms of a noun; past, present, and gerund of a verb).

For example: A search for STARTING retrieves 4 opinions. A search for START retrieves 3 opinions. To retrieve all opinions that include either or both terms, enter START OR STARTING.

3. Capitalization is irrelevant with one exception: You must capitalize the logical connector “OR”.