Frame the question
Specify jurisdiction, authority, period and point to establish. A company-name search alone may miss a case number or mix procedures.
GUIDE / PROTOCOL
Read and cite a public decision
Read a decision with its author, procedure, facts, outcome and date, not just its title or a press release.
Direct answer
How can a decision be cited without overstating it?
Find the text published by the authority or court, identify the document and procedural stage, then tie each claim to its exact passage. State what the decision does not address and check known later steps before consequential reuse.
01 / Review method
Review method
Open the primary text
Start from the decision or case identifier. Distinguish judgment, order, opinion, release, recommendation, formal notice and sanction as appropriate.
Read its exact scope
Record accepted facts, question, reasons and operative part. Check cited paragraphs and do not extend the conclusion to situations outside the text.
Check later steps
Note decision, publication and access dates, language, corrections and known appeals. Prepare a citation with stable URL, identifier, date and passage, then schedule review.
02 / Evidence to keep
Evidence to keep
Reference
Case or decision number, authority, chamber, document type and full-text URL.
Time and version
Decision, publication and access dates, consulted language and visible corrections.
Exact passage
Paragraph or section supporting the claim, with factual and operative context.
Review state
Search for later steps or appeals, search date and limits of accessible sources.
PRACTICAL CHECK
Before reaching a conclusion
A frequent misreading and the check that helps avoid it.
Premature conclusion
A title or release summarises a decision and may omit conditions and limits in its reasoning.
Decisive check
Open the full text, compare the cited passage with the operative part and record known appeals or corrections at citation date.
AFTER THE REVIEW
Decide from the evidence
A release announces a decision
Use it to find number and date, then read reasons and operative part of the full text before stating a rule.
Two texts appear to conflict
Check whether they concern the same facts, period, authority and procedural stage. Compare relevant passages and record unresolved points.
Decision and review trail
Decision and review trail
What the check must help decide and what to retain so the choice can be reviewed.
Sufficient evidence
The citation includes number, authority, document type, date and exact paragraph. Reasons and operative part support the published claim without extending it to other facts.
Next decision
If later procedure or applicable law remains uncertain, present a dated, bounded conclusion. Refer consequential legal uses to a qualified person.
OSINT / Official references
Where can the cited text be found?
Choose the service by issuing authority and move from summary to primary document.
InfoCuria
Why start hereFind the case number, document type and paragraphs of an EU court.
Limit to rememberRead the ruling and its reasoning; a summary or press release cannot replace them.
Read source entryCNIL · Décisions
Why start hereDistinguish CNIL sanctions, formal notices and reference frameworks.
Limit to rememberDistinguish guidance, formal notice and sanction; check date, scope and any appeal.
Read source entryLégifrance
Why start hereCompare a French act with its publication in the official service.
Limit to rememberUse the version applicable on the relevant date and distinguish law from commentary.
Read source entry03 / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a press release enough to cite a rule?
No. It helps locate a case, but check the wording and operative part in the primary decision.
Is an Advocate General opinion a judgment?
No. In some cases it proposes an analysis to the Court and must be distinguished from the judgment.
Is a CNIL formal notice a sanction?
No. CNIL presents formal notices and sanctions as distinct decision types.
Should the consulted language be recorded?
Yes. Keep the language version and exact passage, especially when comparing formulations.
Does a published decision always close the issue?
No. Check known procedural developments, date and precise scope before a current claim.
04 / Official references