Cecily Zamora
Citing law review comments accurately is essential for legal scholars and practitioners to maintain credibility and adhere to academic standards. The *Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation* provides the authoritative guidelines for legal citation, including specific rules for law review comments. These comments, often found in the appendices or footnotes of law reviews, offer critical analysis or additional insights on legal issues. To cite them correctly, one must include key elements such as the author’s name, title of the comment, volume and page numbers of the law review, and publication year. Understanding and applying the *Bluebook*’s precise formatting ensures clarity and consistency in legal writing, facilitating proper attribution and accessibility for readers.
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What You'll Learn
Bluebook Basics for Law Reviews
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to resource for legal citation, and it’s essential for law review editors and authors to master its basics. When citing law review comments, the Bluebook provides specific rules to ensure consistency and clarity. Law review comments are typically shorter pieces published alongside articles, often offering critiques or additional insights. To cite these properly, start by identifying the key elements: the author’s name, the title of the comment, the volume and page number of the law review, the name of the law review, and the year of publication. These components form the foundation of your citation and must be arranged according to Bluebook rules.
In constructing a citation for a law review comment, the author’s name should appear first, followed by the full title of the comment in sentence case and enclosed in quotation marks. Next, provide the volume number of the law review in italics, followed by the abbreviated name of the law review (also italicized), and the page number where the comment begins. Finally, include the year of publication in parentheses. For example: *Jane Doe*, "The Impact of Technology on Legal Practice," *123 Harv. L. Rev.* 1234 (2023). This structure ensures that readers can easily locate the source while adhering to Bluebook standards.
One common challenge is handling multiple authors or special formatting requirements. If a comment has two authors, list both names separated by an ampersand before the title. For more than two authors, use "et al." after the first author’s name. Additionally, pay attention to punctuation and spacing, as the Bluebook is precise about these details. For instance, there should be a space between the volume number and the abbreviated journal title, and parentheses must enclose the publication year. These small details are crucial for maintaining uniformity across legal citations.
Another important aspect is citing comments accessed through online databases. If you’re referencing an electronic source, include the database name and the URL or permalink in your citation. For example: *John Smith*, "Reforming Environmental Laws," *45 Stan. L. Rev.* 678 (2022), available at Westlaw. While the core elements remain the same, adding this information ensures that readers can access the source digitally. Always verify the Bluebook’s rules for electronic sources to avoid errors.
Finally, consistency is key when applying Bluebook basics to law review comments. Law reviews often have their own style guides, but these should complement, not contradict, Bluebook rules. Editors should cross-reference both resources to ensure citations are accurate and uniform throughout the publication. By mastering these fundamentals, you’ll not only enhance the professionalism of your law review but also make it easier for readers to engage with your cited materials.
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Citing Comments vs. Articles
When citing law review publications using the Bluebook, it is crucial to distinguish between comments and articles, as each type of publication has specific citation requirements. Law review comments are typically shorter, student-written pieces that focus on a narrow legal issue, while articles are longer, more in-depth works often authored by legal scholars or practitioners. Understanding the differences in citation format for these two types of publications ensures accuracy and adherence to Bluebook rules.
Citing Comments: According to the Bluebook, law review comments are cited similarly to articles but with a key distinction. The citation begins with the author's name, followed by the title of the comment, which is italicized. The volume number of the law review and the page number where the comment begins are included next. For example: *Jane Doe, The Impact of Recent Amendments on Environmental Law, 50 Harv. Envtl. L. Rev. 123 (2022)*. If the comment has a subtitle, it is included after the main title, separated by a colon. Importantly, the designation "Comment" or "Note" should not be included in the citation unless it is part of the title.
Citing Articles: In contrast, law review articles follow a slightly different format. The author's name is followed by the title of the article, which is also italicized. The volume number and page number of the law review are included, similar to comments. For example: *John Smith, Rethinking Corporate Liability: A Comprehensive Analysis, 65 Stan. L. Rev. 456 (2023)*. If the article has a subtitle, it is included in the same manner as comments. However, articles are generally longer and more formal, which is reflected in their placement within the law review and their citation format.
Key Differences: The primary difference in citing comments versus articles lies in the nature of the publication itself. Comments are often identified by their shorter length and student authorship, while articles are typically longer and written by established legal scholars. However, the Bluebook does not require the citation to explicitly denote whether the work is a comment or an article; this distinction is inferred from the context and the publication's characteristics. Thus, the citation format remains largely consistent, with the focus on accurately identifying the author, title, and publication details.
Practical Tips: When in doubt about whether a piece is a comment or an article, examine the publication's structure and authorship. Student-written pieces are usually comments, while those by professors or practitioners are articles. Additionally, some law reviews may explicitly label comments as "Notes" or "Comments," but this label is not included in the Bluebook citation unless it is part of the title. Always verify the specifics of the publication to ensure the citation aligns with Bluebook rules. By carefully distinguishing between comments and articles, legal writers can maintain precision and professionalism in their citations.
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Format for Law Review Comments
When formatting citations for law review comments using the Bluebook, it is essential to adhere to specific guidelines to ensure clarity and consistency. Law review comments are typically shorter pieces that critique or analyze a particular legal issue, case, or article. The Bluebook provides a structured approach to citing these comments, which helps legal scholars and practitioners accurately reference these sources. The citation format for law review comments is similar to that of articles but includes distinct elements to differentiate the type of publication.
The basic structure for citing a law review comment begins with the author’s name, followed by the title of the comment, the volume number of the law review, the abbreviation of the law review title, the first page number of the comment, and the publication year in parentheses. For example: *Author, Title of Comment, Volume Law Review Abbreviation First Page (Year)*. The title of the comment should be capitalized using standard title case, and the law review abbreviation should follow the Bluebook’s Table T.13. If the comment is available on an electronic database like Westlaw or LexisNexis, the citation should include the database name and the full date of electronic publication, if available.
In-text citations for law review comments follow the same author-title-page format as other Bluebook citations. For instance, if referencing a specific point made in the comment, the citation would appear as: *Author, supra note [previous citation number], at [page number]*. If the author is mentioned in the text, the citation can be simplified to: *(page number)*. It is crucial to ensure that the pinpoints (specific page numbers) are accurate to direct the reader to the exact location of the referenced material.
For comments accessed through online sources, the Bluebook requires additional information to ensure the citation is complete and verifiable. This includes the name of the database (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis) and the URL or permalink to the source. For example: *Author, Title of Comment, Volume Law Review Abbreviation First Page (Year), database name, URL*. If the comment is part of a larger online publication, the citation should also include the editor’s name, if applicable, and any other relevant publication details.
Finally, when citing multiple comments by the same author, the Bluebook mandates the use of abbreviations such as *id.*, *supra*, or *see* to avoid repetition. For instance, if citing a second comment by the same author, the citation would read: *Author, Title of Second Comment, Volume Law Review Abbreviation First Page (Year)*. If the second comment is in the same law review, the citation can be shortened to: *Author, supra, at [page number]*. These rules ensure that citations remain concise while providing all necessary information for proper attribution and verification.
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Pinpoint Citations in Comments
When crafting law review comments, pinpoint citations are essential for directing readers to specific parts of a source, such as a page, paragraph, or section. According to the Bluebook, pinpoint citations in comments should be concise and precise. The primary rule is to include the pinpoint citation immediately after the main citation, separated by a comma and a space. For example, if you are citing a case and want to highlight a specific page, the format would be: *Brown v. Board of Education*, 347 U.S. 483, 495 (1954). Here, "495" is the pinpoint citation directing the reader to the exact page within the case.
In law review comments, pinpoint citations are particularly useful when referencing lengthy articles, statutes, or cases. For instance, when citing a law review article, you might include a pinpoint citation to a specific footnote or section. The format would be: John Doe, *The Evolution of Property Law*, 50 Harv. L. Rev. 1234, 1245 n.32 (2017). In this example, "1245 n.32" directs the reader to page 1245 and footnote 32. This level of specificity ensures that your reader can quickly locate the referenced material, enhancing the clarity and credibility of your comment.
For statutes, pinpoint citations are equally important. When citing a specific section or subsection of a statute, include the relevant designation after the main citation. For example: 18 U.S.C. § 241 (2018), § 241(a)(1). Here, "§ 241(a)(1)" is the pinpoint citation, guiding the reader to the exact subsection within the statute. This practice is crucial in comments, where precision in legal analysis often hinges on specific statutory language.
When citing legislative history materials, such as committee reports or hearings, pinpoint citations should direct the reader to the relevant page or section. For example: S. Rep. No. 115-123, at 15 (2017). In this case, "at 15" is the pinpoint citation, indicating that the referenced material appears on page 15 of the report. This specificity is particularly valuable in comments, where legislative intent and context are frequently analyzed.
Finally, when using pinpoint citations in comments, consistency and accuracy are key. Always verify that the pinpoint citation corresponds exactly to the referenced material. Additionally, be mindful of the Bluebook's rules regarding the use of "id." or "at" in subsequent citations. For instance, if you cite the same source again with a different pinpoint, use "id." followed by the new pinpoint if the source is the same as the immediately preceding citation. For example: *Brown v. Board of Education*, 347 U.S. 483, 495 (1954); *id.* at 496. Mastering pinpoint citations in this manner will elevate the professionalism and utility of your law review comments.
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Online vs. Print Comment Citations
When citing law review comments using the Bluebook, the format differs depending on whether the source is accessed online or in print. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate and compliant legal citations. For print citations, the focus is on providing the traditional elements of a citation, such as the author’s name, title of the comment, law review name, volume number, and page number. For example, a print citation might appear as: *Author, Title of Comment, Volume Number Law Review Name Page Number*. This format ensures that readers can locate the source in a physical law review volume.
In contrast, online citations require additional elements to account for the digital nature of the source. The Bluebook mandates including the URL or a stable link, such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), to ensure accessibility. An online citation might look like this: *Author, Title of Comment, Volume Number Law Review Name Page Number, URL or DOI*. The inclusion of the URL is essential because online sources lack fixed pagination, and the URL serves as the primary locator. However, if a DOI is available, it is preferred over a direct URL due to its permanence.
Another key difference between online and print citations is the treatment of parallel citations. For print sources, parallel citations are often unnecessary unless the comment is also published in another format, such as a database. For online sources, however, parallel citations to both the print version and the online source may be required, depending on the context. This ensures that readers have multiple avenues to access the material, regardless of their preferred medium.
The Bluebook also emphasizes the importance of clarity and consistency in distinguishing between online and print citations. For instance, when citing an online source, the phrase "available at" or "https://perma.cc/" (for permalinks) should precede the URL. This distinguishes the online citation from its print counterpart and signals to the reader that the source is web-based. In contrast, print citations remain straightforward, focusing solely on the physical publication details.
Finally, it is worth noting that the choice between citing an online or print version often depends on the availability and accessibility of the source. If both formats are available, the Bluebook generally recommends citing the print version, as it is considered more stable and authoritative. However, if the comment is only accessible online, the online citation format must be used. This ensures that citations remain accurate, reliable, and in compliance with Bluebook standards, regardless of the medium.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic format for citing a law review comment in Bluebook style is: Author’s Name, Title of Comment, Volume Number Abbreviated Journal Title Page Number (Year).
Yes, the author’s name should be included in the citation, unless the comment is unsigned or the author is unknown.
Use the official Bluebook abbreviation for the law review title, which can be found in Table T.1 of the Bluebook. If the abbreviation is not listed, use the standard abbreviation rules provided in Rule 10.
