
The Bluebook is a style guide that dictates how to format legal documents, including the use of typeface and italics. According to The Bluebook, case names are italicized in the text of a law review article but not in law review footnotes. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as when the case name is part of a sentence grammatically or when the case name is cited in a brief or memo. Additionally, procedural phrases like ex rel. and v. are italicized in case names.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case names in footnotes | Not italicized |
| Case names in footnotes in court filings | Italicized |
| Case names in full citations | Not italicized except for procedural phrases like "ex rel." |
| Case names in brief or memo format | Italicized or underlined |
| Case names in the main text of a law review article | Italicized |
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What You'll Learn

Case names in law review footnotes vs main text
The Bluebook, a style guide for legal citation, differentiates between the main text and footnotes in law review articles. It outlines specific typeface conventions for case names in each of these sections.
In the main text of a law review article, case names are typically italicized. This is a standard convention, and the majority of the text will appear in ordinary type, with italics used for emphasis or original quoted material. However, when it comes to footnotes, the guidelines vary depending on the context.
If a case name is used as a citation embedded in a footnote, it should follow the typeface convention for citations, which is ordinary plain text. Only procedural phrases like "ex rel." are italicized within the citation. On the other hand, if a case name is grammatically part of a sentence within a footnote, it should be italicized, similar to how case names are treated in the main text.
It is important to note that these guidelines may differ slightly depending on the specific style guide or publication. For example, some sources suggest that case names should be italicized in court filings, while others indicate that underlining or basic case citation is commonly used in practice. Additionally, when writing a brief or memo, case names are typically italicized or underlined.
In summary, while case names are generally italicized in the main text of law review articles, the treatment of case names in footnotes depends on whether the case name is part of a sentence or used as a citation. Adhering to these conventions ensures consistency and clarity in legal writing.
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Case name formatting in court filings
The Bluebook is a style guide that dictates how to format legal documents, including the appropriate typeface for case names. According to The Bluebook, case names should be italicized in the text of a law review article. However, in footnotes, case names are typically not italicized and are instead written in regular typeface. This rule applies specifically to journal articles and law review footnotes, and it is important to note that different jurisdictions may have their own specific rules for citation and typeface.
When writing a brief or memo, case names are typically italicized or underlined. For example, a case name in a brief might appear as "New York Times Co. v. Tasini" with the case name italicized. In this example, "v." is also italicized as it is part of the procedural phrase. It is important to be consistent in your application of typeface rules, ensuring that all case names are treated in the same manner throughout your document.
In some instances, you may come across cases where only one party is involved, such as "In re Smith." In these cases, the procedural phrase "In re" is typically italicized, while the name is not. This is because the name is not considered part of the case name in this context.
Additionally, when a case name is embedded within a citation in a footnote, it should follow the typeface convention for citations. This means using ordinary plain text for the case name, except for procedural phrases like "ex rel.," which should be italicized. For example, "Metro. Hous. Dev. Corp. v. Vill. of Arlington Heights, 517 F.2d 409, 415 (7th Cir. 1975)." Here, the case name is not italicized, but the "v." and "ex rel." are italicized as they are part of the procedural phrase.
It is worth noting that some sources suggest that case names should be italicized in footnotes in court filings. However, this may depend on the specific court and its style guidelines. Therefore, it is always important to consult the relevant style guide or authority for the specific court or jurisdiction in which you are filing.
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Bluebook rules for typeface conventions
The Bluebook is a style guide that standardizes legal citation and is used by lawyers, scholars, judges, and law students. The following are the typeface conventions outlined by The Bluebook for law review articles:
Main Text Typeface Conventions
The main body text of a law review article should be in ordinary typeface. However, case names (including the "v." and procedural phrases like ex rel.) and titles of articles, publications, or speeches should be italicized. Additionally, italics may be used for emphasis or stylistic purposes in the text or in original quoted material.
Footnote Text Typeface Conventions
When a sentence in a footnote contains citations, it is placed in citation clauses embedded in the sentence. If a case name is part of the sentence grammatically, it should be italicized. However, when case names are part of citation clauses in footnotes, they should not be italicized. Any other authority in a footnote should follow the typeface convention for a full or short citation.
Punctuation Typeface Conventions
Punctuation marks like commas and semicolons should only be italicized when they are part of the italicized material. They should not be italicized when they are simply elements of the sentence or citation in which they appear.
Introductory Signals Typeface Conventions
Introductory signals, such as "see", "see also", and "cf.", should be in italics when they appear within citation sentences or clauses.
Book Authors and Titles Typeface Conventions
Book authors' names should be in ordinary type, while book titles should be in large and small capitals.
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Case name formatting in journal articles
The Bluebook is a style guide that standardizes legal citation practices in the United States. It outlines specific rules for typeface conventions, including the formatting of case names in journal articles and law reviews.
When it comes to case name formatting in journal articles, the Bluebook guidelines specify that case names should be italicized or underlined when the article is a brief or memo. This formatting helps to distinguish the case name and make it stand out within the text. However, it's important to note that this rule applies specifically to briefs and memos, and different conventions may apply for other types of legal writing.
In contrast, when it comes to law review footnote format, the Bluebook guidelines indicate that case names should be in regular typeface. This means that the case name should be written in plain text without any italics or other formatting. For example, a footnote citation might read: "Metro. Hous. Dev. Corp. v. Vill. of Arlington Heights, 517 F.2d 409, 415 (7th Cir. 1975)". Here, the case name, "Metro. Hous. Dev. Corp. v. Vill. of Arlington Heights," is presented in ordinary type, followed by the relevant details of the case.
It's worth noting that there may be exceptions or variations depending on the specific publication or style guide being followed. For instance, some sources suggest that when a case name is part of a sentence grammatically, it should be italicized, even in footnotes. Additionally, procedural phrases like "ex rel." within case names are typically italicized.
To ensure consistency and accuracy, it is always advisable to consult the most recent edition of the Bluebook or the specific style guide required by the publication or institution.
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Italicization of short-form case citations
The Bluebook, a style guide for legal citation, provides rules for the use of short-form case citations. According to Rule 10.9, short-form case citations should be italicized or underlined. The short form typically includes one party's name or a shortened version of the case name, followed by a pinpoint citation. For example, "Youngstown, 343 U.S. at 585".
The use of short-form case citations in law review footnotes is specifically addressed in the Bluebook. A short form may be used for a case cited within the same footnote or within the five previous footnotes, provided that the full case citation has been given in the same general discussion.
It is important to note that the short form must be unambiguous and readily identify the case being referred to. If only one party's name is used, it should be italicized, as per the Bluebook guidelines.
Additionally, law reviews utilize two sets of typeface conventions: one for main text or footnote text and another for citations. Case names that are part of a sentence grammatically should be italicized, along with the "`v.`" and procedural phrases like "ex rel." However, when used as a citation embedded in the footnote text, case names should follow the typeface convention for citations, which is ordinary plain text.
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Frequently asked questions
No, case names are not italicized in law review footnotes. However, they are italicized in the main text of a law review article.
Case names are italicized in footnotes in court filings.
Law reviews utilize two sets of typeface conventions: one for the main text or footnote text, and one for citations. The main text of a law review article will not contain citations and uses ordinary type and italics. Most of the text will appear in ordinary type. However, case names and titles of articles, publications, or speeches will be italicized.




































