What does the term "Shepardizing" refer to?

The term "Shepardizing" is specifically related to legal research and pertains to the process of verifying the precedential value and current validity of a legal case. This involves checking if a case has been overruled, reversed, or criticized and determining its impact on subsequent case law. By conducting this type of research, legal professionals ensure that the cases they are relying upon remain authoritative and applicable to their current legal issues.

This process is crucial for attorneys and legal scholars because it helps them understand how a particular case fits into the larger legal landscape and assists in predicting how courts may treat similar issues in the future. Thus, legal research into a case's ultimate outcome—ensuring it is still considered good law—aligns perfectly with the definition of "Shepardizing" and underscores its importance in legal practice.