Legal citations are very specifically formatted and include many abbreviations, and they can be a challenge to create or understand. Use the following resources for information on how to cite legal sources.
The Bluebook: a uniform system of citation by Legal citations take a different form than journal article citations and are very specifically formatted and include many abbreviations, and they can be a challenge to create or understand.
As an example, the case Roe v. Wade would be cited: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).
The citation is read:
410 = Volume 410 of the
U.S. = United States Reports
113 = case begins on page 113
1973 = date of the case decision
The official reporter is the United States Reports (US) and the two unofficial, parallel reporters are the
Supreme Court Reporter (S.CT) and
United States Supreme Court Reports Lawyers' Edition (L. Ed. or L.Ed.2nd).
The same case can also be found in the parallel reporters:
93 S.Ct. 705 = Volume 93 beginning at page 705
35 L.Ed.2d 147, Volume 35 at page 147.
