Keith Mack
Citing a law case from a website requires a specific format. The standard legal citation style, Bluebook, is used across all disciplines. The citation should include the name of the case, an abbreviation for the legal series, and the date. For example, a citation for a Supreme Court case would include the volume and page number where the case can be found in the United States Reports, followed by the year. The case name or style of cause is italicized for in-text citations. Other legislative materials such as testimony, hearings, and bills can also be cited and may include a URL if available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case name style | Italicized |
| Case name format | Name v. Name |
| Case name abbreviation | vs. |
| Case name punctuation | Comma after name v. Name |
| Case number | Volume # |
| Reporter | F., F.2d, F.3d, U.S., etc. |
| Page number | Page # |
| Court | Jurisdiction, e.g., US Supreme Court |
| Year | Year of decision |
| URL | Web address |
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What You'll Learn
Citing a law case in APA style
APA (American Psychological Association) style is a citation style commonly used in the social sciences. When citing a law case in APA style, there are a few key elements that you will need to include.
Firstly, the title or name of the case should be written in standard type in the reference list entry and in italics in the in-text citation. For example, if you are citing the case "Brown v. Board of Education", the in-text citation would be: *Brown v. Board of Education*.
The rest of the citation will depend on the court where the decision was made. For U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the citation format is as follows:
> Name v. Name, Volume U.S. Page (Year)
For example:
> Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
Here, "347 U.S." refers to volume 347 of the United States Reports, and the decision can be found starting on page 483. The year indicates when the decision was made.
For U.S. District Court decisions, the format is similar but includes "F. Supp." to indicate Federal Supplements, where U.S. District Court decisions are published:
> Name v. Name, Volume F. Supp. Page (Court Year)
You can also include the URL as an optional element in your citation.
If you are citing a case from a non-U.S. jurisdiction, you may need to modify your citation to follow the appropriate legal citation style for that country. For example, in Canada, the standard citation style is The McGill Guide, which differs from APA style in that it uses italics for case names in the reference citation.
It is always a good idea to consult the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual or a style guide specific to your discipline or jurisdiction for detailed and up-to-date guidance on citing law cases and other legal materials in APA style.
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Citing a law case in Bluebook style
Firstly, the basic format of a case citation typically includes the case name, followed by the reporter volume, the reporter abbreviation, and the first page of the case. For example, a citation might look like this: "Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1966)". The specific format may vary depending on the jurisdiction, court, and type of case. For instance, when citing a United States Supreme Court case, the format is different, as shown in the example: "Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 138 (1803)".
Secondly, it is important to consult Table 1 of the Bluebook, which provides a list of reporter abbreviations and courts, helping you determine the correct abbreviation for the reporter and court in your citation. This table also includes federal and state reporters and statutory compilations. Additionally, Rule 10 of the Bluebook is crucial for case citations, providing extensive instructions on formatting. Rule 10.2, in particular, guides the creation of straightforward case names from the list of parties at the beginning of each case report.
Thirdly, when citing a case, pay attention to the specific page within the case that you are referring to. To cite a particular page, place a comma after the first-page citation and add the pincite for the specific page. For example, "369 F.2d 130, 152 (9th Cir. 1966)". Note that volume numbers should be in Arabic numerals, while page numbers can be in Arabic or Roman numerals, depending on the original source.
Furthermore, certain states have specific rules for case citations. For instance, Oklahoma has its own set of rules for citing cases, which can be found under the Oklahoma entry of T1 in the Bluebook. Additionally, some states no longer publish an official reporter, so it is important to check Table T1 to determine if an official reporter is available for your jurisdiction.
Lastly, when submitting a document to a court, always refer to the local court's citation rules, as some courts may have specific requirements that differ from the Bluebook style. These rules can usually be found on the court's website. By following these guidelines and referring to the Bluebook, you can effectively cite a law case in Bluebook style, ensuring clear and consistent legal communication.
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Citing a law case from a government website
When citing a law case from a government website, it is important to follow the specific style guidelines relevant to your discipline or publication. The Bluebook style, outlined in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, is the standard legal citation style used across all disciplines. However, other styles, such as APA and MLA, have their own guidelines for citing legal materials.
APA Style
In-text citations for cases and court decisions generally include the citation, jurisdiction of the court, and date of the decision. The citation refers to the volume and page in reporters or books where case decisions are published. For example:
> Name v. Name, Volume # F. Supp. Page # (Court Year)
An example of a court decision reference is:
> Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
Other legislative materials such as testimony, hearings, and bills that have not become law can also be cited and may include a URL if one is available.
MLA Style
According to the MLA Style website, writers citing legal works should document the version of the work they consulted, not the canonical version of the law. For US government documents, the general format is as follows:
> Name of National Government, Agency, Subdivision. Title of Document: Subtitle if Given. Edition if given and is not first edition, Name of Government Department, Agency or Committee, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Access Date
If the author is identified, cite them first. Otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the relevant agency or subdivision. For congressional documents, include the Congress number, session details, and report number. Italicize the case name in the text of your paper.
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Citing a law case with multiple reporters
Understanding Official and Unofficial Reporters
Before citing a law case with multiple reporters, it is essential to distinguish between official and unofficial reporters. Official reporters are designated by statute, court rule, or contract with the government as the official source for a particular jurisdiction. For example, United States Reports is the official reporter for the U.S. Supreme Court. On the other hand, unofficial reporters are not designated for the jurisdiction they cover and are only cited when the official reporter has not published the opinion. Examples of unofficial reporters include the Supreme Court Reporter and Lawyer's Edition.
Order of Citation
When citing a law case with multiple reporters, the order of citation is important. The official reporter should always be listed first, followed by any unofficial reporters. The unofficial reporters should be listed in order of citation preference. For instance, if you are citing a Supreme Court case, the order would be United States Reports (official), followed by Supreme Court Reporter and Lawyer's Edition (unofficial) if needed.
State-Specific Considerations
When dealing with state case citations, there are a few special rules to keep in mind. If you are citing a decision from the highest court in a state, you do not need to indicate the deciding court, just the state. Additionally, if the reporter cited clearly indicates the issuing state, you may omit indicating the state again. For example, when citing a decision from the highest court in Arkansas: Seeco, Inc. v. Hales, 22 S.W.3d 157 (Ark. 2000).
Bluebook Rules and Examples
The Bluebook provides specific rules for citing cases, including those with multiple reporters. Rule 10 covers how cases should be cited in legal documents, and Table T.1 lists official names and citation abbreviations for federal and state reporters. For example, when citing a U.S. Supreme Court case, you would follow this format: Name of the case (italicized or underlined), volume, reporter abbreviation, starting page. For instance: Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).
Additionally, Rule 10.2 provides guidelines for creating straightforward case names, and Rules 10.4 and 10.5 address providing information related to the court and year of decision. It's important to note that the Bluebook also allows for abbreviated citations, known as "short form," in limited circumstances.
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Citing a law case with an official reporter
When citing a US Supreme Court case, you must refer to the official reporter, the United States Reports, if the case is published therein. A citation to a case in the United States Reports includes the following five elements:
- Name of the case (underlined or italicized and abbreviated according to Rule 10.2)
- Reporter abbreviation
- Volume and page numbers
- Jurisdiction of the court (e.g. US Supreme Court, Illinois Court of Appeals)
- Date of decision, in the same parentheses as jurisdiction
For example, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). If you need to include a pinpoint citation, for instance, to a quotation, add the page number after the first page: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 164 (1973).
Where a jurisdiction's cases are published in more than one reporter, the official reporter is always listed first, and unofficial reporters are listed in order of citation preference. For example, United States Reports is the official Supreme Court reporter, while Supreme Court Reporter, Lawyer's Edition, and United States Law Week are unofficial reporters.
State cases can be cited using a regional reporter or a state reporter. Most of the time, you will cite a state case using a regional reporter citation. All seven regional reporters are published by the West Group.
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Frequently asked questions
Most legal citations consist of the name of the document (case, statute, law review article), an abbreviation for the legal series, and the date.
Bluebook style is the standard legal citation style used in all disciplines. APA defers to Bluebook style for legal materials.
When citing a Supreme Court case, you must cite the official Supreme Court reporter, United States Reports. List the following five elements in order: the name of the case (italicized or underlined), volume and page number, jurisdiction of the court, and date of decision.
Citing a statute (law or act) from a government website follows a specific format: Name of Act, Title # Source § Section # (Year). URL. Note that the year refers to the year the law was published, not passed.
For in-text (parenthetical) citations, use the same form as you would in APA for a work with no author: style of cause or case name, date, and page or paragraph number when appropriate. The title or name of the case is written in italics.
