How to Cite a Legal Case in APA 7th Edition

This guide explains how to format a legal case citation in APA 7th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a legal case in APA 7th Edition:

Template

Name v. Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Year). URL

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Brown v. Board of Education, 1954)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/347/483/

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the case name
List the names of the two parties separated by "v." — use the standard legal abbreviation. Italicize the case name in text but not in the reference list.
2
Add the reporter information
Include the volume number, reporter abbreviation (e.g., U.S., F.3d, S. Ct.), and the first page number of the opinion.
3
Include the court and year
In parentheses, include the court name (if not the highest court) and the year of the decision. For U.S. Supreme Court cases, only the year is needed.
4
Add the URL
Provide the URL where the case can be accessed online (e.g., from a legal database or court website).
5
Format the in-text citation
Italicize the case name in the running text and the parenthetical citation. After the first full citation, you may use a shortened form.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Italicizing the case name in the reference list (it should be italicized only in the in-text citation, not the reference entry).
Omitting the court name when it is not the highest court in the jurisdiction.
Not including the volume number and reporter abbreviation.
Confusing the year decided with the year the opinion was published.
Forgetting to include the URL when the case was accessed online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I italicize the case name in APA?

Yes, but only in the in-text citation. The case name is italicized when it appears in the running text or parenthetical citation. In the reference list entry, the case name is not italicized.

How do I cite a case from a lower court?

Include the court abbreviation in the parentheses along with the year: Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 456 (9th Cir. 2020). For Supreme Court cases, only the year is needed because the U.S. reporter implies the court.

What if the case is unpublished?

For unpublished cases, use the docket number instead of the reporter information: Smith v. Jones, No. 20-1234 (D. Mass. Dec. 15, 2020). Include the full date and the URL if available.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your legal case:

Case Name
Volume
Reporter
Page
Court
Year

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the case name

List the names of the two parties separated by "v." — use the standard legal abbreviation. Italicize the case name in text but not in the reference list.

Add the reporter information

Include the volume number, reporter abbreviation (e.g., U.S., F.3d, S. Ct.), and the first page number of the opinion.

Include the court and year

In parentheses, include the court name (if not the highest court) and the year of the decision. For U.S. Supreme Court cases, only the year is needed.

Add the URL

Provide the URL where the case can be accessed online (e.g., from a legal database or court website).

Format the in-text citation

Italicize the case name in the running text and the parenthetical citation. After the first full citation, you may use a shortened form.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Italicizing the case name in the reference list (it should be italicized only in the in-text citation, not the reference entry).

Omitting the court name when it is not the highest court in the jurisdiction.

Not including the volume number and reporter abbreviation.

Confusing the year decided with the year the opinion was published.

Forgetting to include the URL when the case was accessed online.