Glossary · General
Citator
- Type
- Glossary
- Jurisdiction
- National
- Date
- 2026-09-23
- Topic
- General
A research tool that lists what later authorities have done with a case, statute or regulation — who cited it, followed it, questioned it, overruled it, or repealed it — so a reader can tell whether it is still good law. Westlaw's KeyCite and Lexis's Shepard's are citators; UpLaw's treatment flags and Citator Report are one too. A citator reports what its sources record, so an empty report means nothing is recorded, not that nothing happened.
Definition
A research tool that lists what later authorities have done with a case, statute or regulation — who cited it, followed it, questioned it, overruled it, or repealed it — so a reader can tell whether it is still good law. Westlaw's KeyCite and Lexis's Shepard's are citators; UpLaw's treatment flags and Citator Report are one too. A citator reports what its sources record, so an empty report means nothing is recorded, not that nothing happened.
Citator. A research tool that lists what later authorities have done with a case, statute or regulation — who cited it, followed it, questioned it, overruled it, or repealed it — so a reader can tell whether it is still good law. Westlaw's KeyCite and Lexis's Shepard's are citators; UpLaw's treatment flags and Citator Report are one too. A citator reports what its sources record, so an empty report means nothing is recorded, not that nothing happened. Example: She ran the case through the citator and found it had been followed by thirty later decisions and distinguished by two.