Which tool is often used to check the status and treatment of a case over time?

Shepard's Citations is an essential tool in legal research that allows legal professionals to check the status and treatment of cases over time. It provides comprehensive citation information, indicating how a specific case has been cited in subsequent cases and whether it remains good law, has been affirmed, reversed, or distinguished. This functionality is crucial for understanding the precedent and authority of a case as it evolves through the judicial system.

By using Shepard's Citations, a researcher can quickly identify if a case still holds value in legal arguments or if it has been undermined in later rulings. This process aids attorneys and law students in ensuring that they are relying on current and applicable legal precedent when building arguments or analyzing legal issues, making Shepard’s a staple in case law research.

In contrast, other tools mentioned typically serve different purposes. Legal database software encompasses a wide range of functionalities for storing and retrieving legal documents but may not focus specifically on case status. A case law digest provides summaries of case law but doesn’t track treatment over time in the same way. A legal index helps locate legal materials but isn’t specific to the ongoing status of cases. Thus, Shepard's Citations stands out for its vital role in tracking and verifying case treatment throughout legal proceedings.