How to cite a procedural / evidentiary rule
Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format · B12.1.3 / R12.9.3 · Statutes & legislation
Example
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
More examples
Each of these is checked against the rules on every change to the tool.
- Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) advisory committee's note to 1946 amendment.
- Sup. Ct. R. 8, 306 U.S. 690 (1939) (repealed 1954).
What the citation needs
Required
- Rule set — The rules’ abbreviated name: “Fed. R. Civ. P.”, “Fed. R. Evid.” (R12.9.3).
- Rule — The rule number, with its subdivisions: “12(b)(6)”.
When they apply
- Appended note — A note or comment appended to the source (R3.4).
- Year repealed — The year the statute was repealed, given in parentheses: “(repealed 1969)” (R12.7.2).
- Source of the repealed rule — Where the source is published: the reporter, gazette, series or collection, with its volume and page.
- Year — The year that goes in the date parenthetical at the end of the citation.
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)
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Law review footnotes (Whitepages)
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
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
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) (2024).
Why
Give the author, or the editor/translator, or the publisher (R15.1; R15.2(d)).
Give the author, or the editor/translator, or the publisher (R15.1; R15.2(d)).
Right
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Wrong
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) (1946) advisory committee's note.
Why
Could not classify (case, statute, regulation, uniform/model act, article, book, or website).
Right
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) advisory committee's note to 1946 amendment.
Wrong
Sup. Ct. R. 8, 306 U.S. 690 (1939).
Why
Rules of evidence and procedure in force are cited without a date (R12.9.3); a rule no longer in force gives its source and “(repealed <year>)”.
Right
Sup. Ct. R. 8, 306 U.S. 690 (1939) (repealed 1954).
Governing rules
B12.1.3 / R12.9.3
- 12 — statutes.
- 12.9.3 — rules of evidence and procedure (no date when in force).
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
Statutes & legislation: