"Around the U.S., High Courts Follow California’s Lead"

On March 11, 2008, the New York Times reported on a study published in the U.C. Davis Law Review finding the California Supreme Court to be the most influential state court in the nation over the past 65 years. According to the Times story, the study found that more California Supreme Court decisions were flagged by Shepard's Citation Service as "followed" than those of any other state court.

The law review article cited in the story is Jake Dear & Edward W. Jessen, "'Followed Rates' and Leading State Cases, 1940-2005," 41 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 689 (2007). The story also points out that Mr. Dear is the California Supreme Court's Chief Supervising Attorney and Mr. Jessen is the California Reporter of Decisions.