How to Cite a Legal Case in ASA (7th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a legal case citation in ASA (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 ASA (7th Edition):

Template

Case Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Year). Retrieved Month Day, Year (URL).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Brown v. Board of Education 1954:493)

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). Retrieved March 28, 2026 (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/347/483/).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the case name
List the party names separated by "v." Italicize in running text but not in the reference list.
2
Add the reporter information
Include the volume number, reporter abbreviation (e.g., U.S., F.3d), and starting page.
3
Include the court and year
In parentheses, include the court abbreviation (if needed) and the year.
4
Add retrieval date and URL
Write 'Retrieved' followed by the date, then the URL in parentheses.
5
Format the in-text citation
Use (Case Name Year:Page) with a colon before the page. Italicize the case name in running text.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using a comma instead of a colon before page numbers in the in-text citation.
Not using the ASA 'Retrieved Date (URL)' format for cases accessed online.
Italicizing the case name in the reference list.
Omitting the volume number and reporter abbreviation.
Not including the court name for lower court decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does ASA format legal case in-text citations?

Use the colon format: (Brown v. Board of Education 1954:493). The colon before the page number is a distinctive ASA convention.

Are legal cases common in sociology?

Legal cases appear in sociology papers dealing with law and society, civil rights, criminal justice, and social policy.

Do I use the ASA URL format for legal cases?

Yes. Use the standard ASA format: Retrieved Date (URL). This applies to all online sources in ASA.

Information You Will Need

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

Case Name
Volume
Reporter
Page
Court
Year

Generate citations automatically with CiteDash

Stop formatting citations by hand. CiteDash automatically generates accurate ASA (7th Edition) citations for all your sources while you research and write.

Start Free Trial More ASA (7th Edition) Guides

Step-by-Step Guide

Write the case name

List the party names separated by "v." Italicize in running text but not in the reference list.

Add the reporter information

Include the volume number, reporter abbreviation (e.g., U.S., F.3d), and starting page.

Include the court and year

In parentheses, include the court abbreviation (if needed) and the year.

Add retrieval date and URL

Write 'Retrieved' followed by the date, then the URL in parentheses.

Format the in-text citation

Use (Case Name Year:Page) with a colon before the page. Italicize the case name in running text.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using a comma instead of a colon before page numbers in the in-text citation.

Not using the ASA 'Retrieved Date (URL)' format for cases accessed online.

Italicizing the case name in the reference list.

Omitting the volume number and reporter abbreviation.

Not including the court name for lower court decisions.