Kara Sears
Legal citations are references to legal authorities, and they follow standard formats to ensure that anyone using a law library can find the resources cited. Case citations are generally made up of the names of the parties in the case, the volume number, the abbreviated reporter title, and the page number. For example, in Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1966), rev'd, 389 U.S. 347 (1967), Katz and United States are the parties involved, 369 is the volume number, F.2d is the abbreviated reporter title, and 130 is the page number. When citing multiple case law sources in one citation, the Bluebook provides guidelines for creating simple and straightforward case names from the list of parties given at the beginning of each case report.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case citation format | Case name, volume number, page number, court, and year of decision |
| Example | Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1966), rev'd, 389 U.S. 347 (1967) |
| Rules | Bluebook Rule 10.2, divided into sub-rules 10.2.1 and 10.2.2 |
| Volume numbers | Should be cited using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| Page numbers | Can be cited as either Arabic or Roman numerals, depending on the original source |
| Court and year of decision | Placed in a parenthetical after the reporter citation and pincite |
| United States Supreme Court cases | Only the year of decision is required in the parenthetical |
| Federal district court or court of appeals cases | Include both court information and year of decision in the parenthetical |
| State case citations | Typically cited to one of the regional reporters |
| Highest court decisions | Do not need to indicate the deciding court, only the state |
| Unambiguous state citations | Do not need to indicate the state if the reporter cited clearly indicates it |
| Abbreviations | Refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, ALWD Citation Manual, or Bieber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations |
| Code citation | Title, code abbreviation, section number, and year |
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What You'll Learn
Case citations and court documents
Case citations are a system used by legal professionals to identify past court case decisions. They are formatted differently in different jurisdictions but generally contain the same key information. Case decisions are most frequently published in bound reporters, but since the advent of the Internet, most published court decisions are now available online.
In court documents and filings, parallel citations to the same case as it appears in multiple reporters are often required. However, the Bluebook, a widely used guide to legal citation, does not require parallel citations. It does, however, provide guidance on how to properly abbreviate reporter names.
When citing a case, the citation should indicate the specific page within a case. This is done by placing a comma and "pincite" to the specific page after the first-page citation. The Bluebook also provides rules for citing volume and page numbers. Volume numbers should be cited using Arabic numerals (1,2,3) even if they appear as Roman numerals (XXV) in the original source. Page numbers may be cited as either Arabic or Roman numerals, depending on how they appear in the original source.
State case citations will typically be to one of the regional reporters. There are a few special rules for these citations. For example, if the decision is made by the highest court, only the state needs to be indicated, not the deciding court. Additionally, the state does not need to be indicated if the reporter cited unambiguously indicates which state issued it.
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Rules for state case citations
The Bluebook outlines the basic concepts of legal citation for state cases. The following are rules for state case citations:
Case Name
The name of the case should be italicized or underlined, and abbreviated according to Rule 10.2. Rule 10.2.1 applies to case names in textual sentences and citations, while rule 10.2.2 applies only to case names in citations. In textual sentences, only widely known acronyms and the words "&", "Ass'n," "Bros.," "Co.," "Corp.," "Inc.," "Ltd.," and "No." should be abbreviated. In citations, all words that would be abbreviated in a textual sentence, as well as any word listed in Table 6 of The Bluebook, should be abbreviated. States, countries, and other geographical units should also be abbreviated according to Table 10, unless the geographical unit is a named party, in which case it should not be abbreviated.
Published Source
The published source or sources in which the case may be located should be included in the citation. This is typically a case reporter, which will include the volume number, the abbreviated name of the reporter, and the first page of the case. The correct reporter abbreviation can be found in Table 1 of The Bluebook.
Parenthetical Information
A parenthetical indicating the court and year of the decision should be included in the citation. When citing decisions of the United States Supreme Court or the highest court of any state, the name of the deciding court should not be included. However, when citing decisions of a federal district court or federal court of appeals, both court information and the year of decision should be included. If a case has been published in a public domain format, a parallel citation is required.
Pinpoint Citation
If you are citing specific language or an idea that appears on a particular page of a case, include a pinpoint citation to that page. A pinpoint citation is placed after the first page of the case, separated by a comma and a space. When including parallel citations, a pinpoint citation must be provided for both the official and unofficial reporters. To cite a range of pages, indicate the first and last page of the range with a dash and no spaces, for example, "83-84".
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Understanding the basic format for case citations
The basic format of a case citation may vary depending on the jurisdiction, court, and type of case. However, there are some general rules and guidelines that can help you understand the basic format for case citations.
Firstly, it's important to note that the Bluebook is a commonly used guide for legal citation. Rules 10, 10.2, 10.3.1, 10.4, and B10 in the Bluebook provide extensive instructions on how to format case citations, including guidelines for creating simple and straightforward case names. In addition, the Bluebook includes tables that list abbreviations for reporters, courts, and geographical terms, which can be helpful when formatting citations.
When citing a case, the full case name is usually italicized or underlined in court documents, briefs, and motions. However, in academic legal writing, such as a law review article, full case names are generally not underlined or italicized. Here is an example of a case citation: Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1966), rev'd, 389 U.S. 347 (1967).
After the reporter citation and pincite, information related to the court and year of decision is typically placed in parentheses. For cases decided by the United States Supreme Court, only the year of decision is required, such as Sweatt v. Painter, 339 U.S. 629 (1950). However, when citing cases decided by a federal district court or federal court of appeals, both court information and the year of decision should be included, as shown in Edgewater Foundation v. Thompson, 350 F.3d 694 (7th Cir. 2003).
State case citations usually refer to regional reporters, and there are special rules to consider. For example, when citing the highest court, only the state needs to be indicated, as seen in Seeco, Inc. v. Hales, 22 S.W.3d 157 (Ark. 2000). Additionally, the state may be omitted if the reporter cited unambiguously indicates the issuing state, as in DiLucia v. Madelker, 493 N.Y.S.2d 769 (App. Div. 1985).
It's worth mentioning that different countries may have their own standard case citation formats. For instance, Australia and New Zealand have adopted a neutral citation standard, where the naming system does not depend on the publication of the case in a law report. Denmark, on the other hand, does not have an official standard or style guide, but most case citations include the reporter's name or abbreviation, the year or volume, the page number, and the court's name or abbreviation.
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Locating the case reporter series
In the United States, The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the authoritative guide on legal citation formats. It provides tables of official names and legal citation abbreviations for federal and state reporters, as well as federal and state statutory compilations. The Bluebook also outlines rules for citing cases from different court systems, such as the U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, and federal district courts. For example, when citing a U.S. Supreme Court case, one must refer to the official reporter, the United States Reports, if the case is published therein.
In addition to The Bluebook, other resources such as ALWD Citation Manual and Beiber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations can provide assistance in locating the correct case reporter series and their abbreviations. These resources can be found at the reference desk of a law library.
Once the appropriate case reporter series is identified, the next steps involve locating the specific volume and page number within that series. The volume number is typically located on the spine of each reporter, and the page number follows the abbreviated reporter title in the citation. It is important to note that volume numbers should be cited using Arabic numerals, even if they appear as Roman numerals in the original source.
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Identifying the appropriate code
When citing case law, it is important to identify the appropriate code to ensure accurate legal citation. Here are some detailed instructions and guidelines for doing so:
Understanding Citation Systems
Start by familiarising yourself with the citation system you are required to use. The Bluebook is a commonly used citation system for legal materials, offering comprehensive guidelines for citing cases, statutes, and other legal sources. The Bluebook rules cover various aspects, including volume and page numbers, court abbreviations, and parenthetical information. Other citation styles, such as APA, also refer to The Bluebook for legal citation formats.
State Case Citations
State case citations typically refer to regional reporters. When citing state cases, it is essential to consult the specific state's Bluebook for format variations. Each state has its own official and preferred codes, as well as proper abbreviations. For example, Connecticut's official code is the "General Statutes of Connecticut," while the unofficial code is "Connecticut General Statutes Annotated."
Federal Court Decisions
When citing federal court decisions, the format may vary depending on the specific court. For decisions made by the United States Supreme Court, the citation generally includes the case name, volume, and year of decision, without additional case information in the parenthetical. For instance: *Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965)*.
However, when citing cases decided by a federal district court or federal court of appeals, both court information and the year of decision are included. An example would be: *Edgewater Foundation v. Thompson, 350 F.3d 694 (7th Cir. 2003)*.
Statute Citations
When citing statutes, refer to Bluebook Rule 12 for guidance. Table T.1 provides official names and legal citation abbreviations for federal and state statutory compilations. Additionally, Table T1.3 offers a list of available codes for each state, along with the preferred code and proper abbreviations. It is important to note that while state statutes are generally cited similarly to federal statutes, individual states may have unique requirements. Therefore, always consult the Bluebook for each specific state when citing statutes.
Providing Additional Information
In some instances, you may need to include additional information in your citations. For example, if you are citing a statute within a specific section of a code, you would include the name of the law, state abbreviation, code abbreviation, and section number. This is known as the Format 1 – State Code. Here's an example: *Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, Cal. Penal Code § 11164 et seq.*.
If a new law updates multiple code sections, you would use Format 2 – Bill/Chapter, which includes the name of the law, state abbreviation, branch, bill number, and chapter number. An example of this format is: *California Fostering Connections to Success Act, Cal. Assemb. B. 12 (2010-2011), Chapter 559 (Cal. Stat. 2010)*.
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Frequently asked questions
A citation is a reference to a legal authority. It is important to follow a standard format for citations to legal materials so that anyone using a law library may find the resources cited. The citation format differs for different types of legal sources, including cases, statutes, and secondary legal materials. Case citations are made up of the names of the parties involved in the case, the volume number, the abbreviated reporter title, and the page number. The volume number always comes before the reporter title, and the page number always comes after.
The Bluebook is a style guide that sets out rules for legal citations. Rule 10.2 provides guidelines for creating simple and straightforward case names from the list of parties given at the beginning of every case report. Rule 10.3.1(b) states that citations to the appropriate regional reporter are preferred. Rule 10.4 describes what information must be included in the parenthetical after the reporter citation and pincite. This information includes the court and year of decision and varies depending on whether the case was decided by a state or federal court and the level of the court.
To cite multiple case law sources in one citation, provide the names of the parties involved in the case, followed by the volume number, abbreviated reporter title, and page number for each source, separated by commas. For example: Katz v. United States, 369 F.2d 130 (9th Cir. 1966), rev'd, 389 U.S. 347 (1967). You can also use parallel citations to the same case as it appears in multiple reporters, although this is not required by the Bluebook.
