How to Cite a Legal Case in Bluebook (21st Edition)

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a legal case in Bluebook (21st Edition):

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Write the case name

   Italicise (or underscore in briefs) the case name. Abbreviate words per Bluebook Tables T6 and T10. Use 'v.' (with a period) between party names.

2. 2

   Add the reporter citation

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

3. 3

   Include pinpoint page if needed

   For a specific passage, add a comma and the pinpoint page after the first page: 347 U.S. 483, 495.

4. 4

   Add the court and year

   In parentheses, include the court abbreviation (if not obvious from the reporter) and the year. For U.S. Supreme Court cases in U.S. Reports, include only the year.

5. 5

   Handle subsequent history

   Include subsequent history (e.g., aff'd, rev'd, cert. denied) after the main citation using the appropriate Bluebook abbreviations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not abbreviating party names per Bluebook Table T6 (e.g., 'Board of Education' should be 'Bd. of Educ.').
• Including the court name in the parenthetical for U.S. Supreme Court cases reported in U.S. Reports (only the year is needed).
• Not italicising the case name in court documents or underscoring it in briefs.
• Omitting the pinpoint page number when citing a specific passage.
• Using the wrong reporter abbreviation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information You Will Need

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

• Case Name
• Volume
• Reporter
• Page
• Court
• Year