What is the purpose of a table of cases in legal documents?

The purpose of a table of cases in legal documents is to provide an alphabetical list of cited cases. This table serves as a useful reference tool for readers, allowing them to quickly locate specific cases mentioned throughout the document. By organizing case citations in alphabetical order, it enhances the document's navigability, making it easier for practitioners, judges, and other stakeholders to find relevant case law without sifting through the entire text.

While summarizing legal principles or providing analyses of court opinions may be helpful in other contexts, such functions fall outside the primary role of a table of cases. The table does not outline procedural steps, as that is typically addressed within the substantive portions of legal writing where legal procedures are discussed in detail. Thus, the focus of the table of cases remains on better accessibility through citation organization, which is why the correct answer highlights it as an alphabetical list of cited cases.