What is the purpose of a headnote in legal writings?

A headnote in legal writings serves to describe the issues before the court's opinion. It summarizes the key points and legal questions that the court addressed in a particular case, effectively highlighting the salient aspects of the case before diving into the details of the court's decision. This makes it easier for readers to understand the context and significance of the case at a glance, allowing them to grasp the essential legal issues without having to read the entire opinion.

While headnotes do provide valuable information, they do not summarize case law precedent in a way that encompasses the entirety of the law or its applications. Instead, they focus more specifically on the issues relevant to the particular case at hand. The conclusion of the case is articulated in the court's opinion, not in the headnotes, which are mainly concerned with the identification of legal issues rather than the final outcomes of the case. Definitions of legal terms are typically found in separate glossaries or annotations rather than in headnotes.