CO Bar Legal Research 3

Question 1

An attorney needs the legislative history of a recent Colorado statute. Which source is most useful?

Accepted Answer

Audio recordings and journals of Colorado General Assembly committee hearings

Answer

Colorado legislative history is found in General Assembly committee hearing recordings, journals, and bill files rather than in reporters or regulations.

Question 2

Session laws enacted by the Colorado General Assembly are published chronologically in:

Accepted Answer

Session Laws of Colorado

Answer

New enactments appear chronologically in the Session Laws of Colorado before being codified into the C.R.S.

Question 3

A Colorado trial court is faced with conflicting decisions from two divisions of the Colorado Court of Appeals. What is true?

Accepted Answer

Neither division binds the other, so the trial court may follow the more persuasive decision

Answer

Divisions of the Colorado Court of Appeals do not bind one another, so a trial court may choose the reasoning it finds more persuasive.

Question 4

Which research tool organizes case law by topic using numbered subject classifications?

Accepted Answer

West Key Number System

Answer

West's Key Number System assigns topics and numbered subdivisions to points of law, letting researchers find cases by subject.

Question 5

When a Colorado statute and a Colorado Supreme Court common-law rule conflict on the same issue, which controls?

Accepted Answer

The statute, unless it is unconstitutional

Answer

A valid statute enacted by the legislature supersedes conflicting common law.

(CO Bar) Colorado Bar Exam Practice Test

(CO Bar) Colorado Bar Exam Practice Test

CO Bar Legal Research 3