To Cite a Case, Start with the Name
State the last name of the plaintiff (the first plaintiff, if there is more than one). If the plaintiff is an entity, state the full name but abbreviate generic terms, like “Corp.” Write “v.” not “vrs.” or “vs.” then, the last name of the first defendant. If the defendant is an entity, state the full name. Underline the names of the parties. Insert a comma after the names (do not underline the comma).
State Where the Case Is Located
Put the volume number for the case reporter. Then, the abbreviated name of the case reporter. The Supreme Court Reporters are U.S., L. Ed. and S. Ct.; the Federal Court of Appeals is F., F.2d or F.3d; and the Federal District Court (Trial Court) is F. Supp. or F. Supp. 2d. Memorize those reporters and the state reporters for the state where you will practice. Do not space between letters or letters and ordinals (e.g., F.2d). Put the page number for the first page of the case. Insert a comma, then put the number for the page cited.
Finish with the Court That Decided the Case and the Date
Start with an open parenthesis. For federal cases, abbreviate the circuit or district as appropriate (e.g., 11th Cir. or M.D. Fla.). For state cases, abbreviate the name of the court (e.g., Fla. Dist. Ct. App. or Fla. 2d DCA). No abbreviation is needed if the reporter is for the federal or state Supreme Court only. Put the year the case was decided. Then close parenthesis and finish with a period, so it looks like this:
Smith v. Jones, 112 F. Supp. 345, 350 (M.D. Fla. 1993).
If You Cite the Case and Page again, Use a Signal
If there is no intervening cite, use Id. If you cite the case again, but the page is different, add the new page, like this: Id. at 351. If there is an intervening cite, and you cite the case again, do it like this: Smith, 112 F. Supp. at 351.
To Cite a Statute, Just State Where It Is Located
Start with the title number for the code or regulation (the name of the statute is usually omitted). Then, abbreviate the name of the unannotated code or regulation. The Federal Statutes are U.S.C., and the Code of Federal Regulations is C.F.R. Memorize the names of the statutes and regulations for the state in which you plan to practice. Put a section symbol or two if citing multiple sections. Then the number of the section and letters for any subsection, and finish with a period (the parenthetical including the date is often omitted as well), like this:
12 U.S.C. §122(a).
If You Cite the Statute again, Use a Signal
If there is no intervening cite, use Id. If you cite the statute again, but the section is different, do it like this: Id. §122(b). or §122(b). Don’t use “at.” If there is an intervening cite, and you cite the statute again, do it like this: 12 U.S.C. §122(a).
To Quote the Language from a Case or Statute, Use These Four Rules
- If the quote is in the text, use quotation marks.
- To do a block quote, double-space the text, then indent and single-space the body of the quote, leaving out any quotation marks. Left justify the citation for the quote, and then continue with the text.
- To alter text, use brackets [ ].
- To omit words in text, use an ellipsis . . . (and add a fourth period if the ellipsis is at the end of a sentence).
That’s it. After practicing law for approximately 30 years, that is, in my opinion, all the citations a 2L really needs to know. If you practice litigation and encounter anything else, you must look up the correct form. But those are all the forms the average student will encounter repeatedly. And those are the forms you need to get right; if you don’t, your mistake will stick out like a sore thumb.
