How to Cite a Legal Case in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date)

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a legal case in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date):

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

   List the party names separated by "v." The case name is italicized in running text but not in the reference list.

2. 2

   Add the reporter information

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

3. 3

   Include the court and year

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

4. 4

   Add the URL if accessed online

   Provide the URL where the case text can be accessed. End with a period.

5. 5

   Format the in-text citation

   Use (Case Name Year) or (Case Name Year, Page). Italicize the case name in running text: Brown v. Board of Education (1954). In parenthetical form: (Brown v. Board of Education 1954, 493).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Placing the year at the end outside the parentheses instead of inside the court parenthetical.
• Italicizing the case name in the reference list (Chicago does not italicize case names in the reference list).
• Omitting the volume number and reporter abbreviation.
• Not including the court name for lower court decisions.
• Adding a comma between the case name and year in the in-text citation.

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