How to cite a case
Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format · B10 / R10 · Cases & decisions
Full case citation, including In re, parallel cites, and Westlaw/Lexis.
Example
Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299 (1990).
More examples
Each of these is checked against the rules on every change to the tool.
- United States v. Baxter, 492 F.2d 150, 150 (9th Cir. 1973).
- Meritor Sav. Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 60 (1986).
- Env’t Def. Fund v. EPA, 465 F.2d 528, 533 (D.C. Cir. 1972).
- United States v. Jardine, 364 F.3d 1200, 1203 (10th Cir. 2004).
- People v. Armour, 590 N.W.2d 61 (Mich. 1999).
What the citation needs
Required
- Plaintiff / first party — The first party on the first side. In a citation, R10.2.2 abbreviates the words T6 and T10 list.
- Volume — The volume number, which comes before the reporter, code or periodical name.
- Reporter — The reporter’s abbreviation, from T1.
- First page — The page the source begins on. The page you are citing goes in the pincite.
- Year — The year that goes in the date parenthetical at the end of the citation.
- Docket number — The docket number as it appears on the court’s papers (R10.8.1(a)).
- Database number — The document number the database assigns — the “1442014” of “1999 WL 1442014” (R10.8.1).
- Month — The month, abbreviated per T12.
When they apply
- Defendant / second party — The first party on the other side, abbreviated the same way.
- Procedural phrase — “In re”, “Ex parte” and the like, for a case with no adversary (R10.2.1(b)).
- Pincite — The exact page (or section, or paragraph) your point is on — not the first page. R1.2(f): pincites are required except after “see generally”.
- Court (if the reporter doesn't fix it) — The deciding court, abbreviated per T1 and T7, in the parenthetical with the date (R10.4). Leave out what the reporter already makes clear.
- Reporter/editor name (early reporters) — R10.3.2: pre-1875 nominative reporters — “5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137”.
- Parallel citation(s) — Another reporter or source printing the same material, cited after the first (R10.3.1).
- Explanatory parentheticals (one per line) — Explanatory or weight-of-authority parentheticals, one per line, in R1.5(b)’s order.
- Database year — The year in the database identifier — the “1999” of “1999 WL 1442014” (R10.8.1).
- Day — The day of the month.
In a brief and in a law review
The Bluebook sets citations two ways: the Bluepages for court documents and legal memoranda, the Whitepages for law review footnotes. Here is the first example above as each one prints it, in its typeface.
Court documents (Bluepages)
Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299 (1990).
Law review footnotes (Whitepages)
Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299 (1990).
The words are the same in both; only the typeface changes.
Common mistakes
Each of these is a citation the checker refuses, with what it says is wrong and the corrected form.
Wrong
Blystone vs. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299 (1990).
Why
Use “v.” with a period (R10.2.1(a)).
Abbreviate “vs.” to “v.” in the case name (T6; R10.2.2).
Right
Blystone v. Pennsylvania, 494 U.S. 299 (1990).
Wrong
United States v. Baxter, 492 F.2d 150, 150 (1973).
Why
Court is required for this reporter (e.g., 9th Cir., D. Mass.).
Right
United States v. Baxter, 492 F.2d 150, 150 (9th Cir. 1973).
Wrong
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 60 (1986).
Why
Abbreviate “Savings” to “Sav.” in the case name (T6; R10.2.2).
Right
Meritor Sav. Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 60 (1986).
Wrong
Environmental Defense Fund v. EPA, 465 F.2d 528, 533 (D.C. Cir. 1972).
Why
Abbreviate “Environmental” to “Env’t” in the case name (T6; R10.2.2).
Abbreviate “Defense” to “Def.” in the case name (T6; R10.2.2).
Right
Env’t Def. Fund v. EPA, 465 F.2d 528, 533 (D.C. Cir. 1972).
Governing rules
B10 / R10
- 10.2.2 — additional rules for case names in citations.
- T1.1 — reporter, court & jurisdiction.
Build this citation with the generator, check one you have already written, or paste a whole list of footnotes to check them in order.
Related source types
Cases & decisions: