APA and Chicago (Author-Date) follow The Bluebook system for legal citations.
Learn more:
A case or court citation includes:
Example:
The decision for Brown v. Board of Education appears in Volume 347 of the United States Reports (abbreviated U.S.) on page 483, and it was decided in 1954. Note. The name is in italics in the "short form" of the citation, the in-text citation.
The U.S. Supreme Court decisions are published in the United States Reports (abbreviated U.S.). Cite the Supreme Court decision as published in the United States Reports whenever possible; cite the Supreme Court Reporter for cases not yet published in the United States Reports.
General Format:
Name v. Name, Volume U.S. Page (Year). URL
In-text citation: (Name v. Name, Year)
Examples:
Burnwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 573 U.S. 682 (2014). https://www.oyez.org/cases/2013/13-354
In-text citation: (Burnell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 2014)
Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 584 U.S. ___ (2018). https://www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-111
In-text citation: (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 2018).
Decisions from the U.S. District Court are published in the Federal Supplements.
Name v. Name, Volume F. Supp. Page (Court Year). URL
In-text citation: (Name v. Name, Year)
Example:
Panetti v. Drake, 401 F. Supp. 2d 702 (W.D. Tex. 2004). https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/401/702/2500384/
In-text citation: (Panetti v. Drake, 2004)
Decisions from the U.S. Circuit Court are published in the Federal Reporter.
Name v. Name, Volume F. [or F.2d, F.3d] Page (Court Year). URL
In-text citation: (Name v. Name, Year)
Example:
McBride v. Maass, 28 F.3d 107 (9th Cir. 1994). https://openjurist.org/28/f3d/107/mcbride-v-maass
In-text citation: (McBride v. Maass, 1994)
Name v. Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Year). URL
In-text citation: (Name v. Name, Year)
Example:
Bridges v. State, 863 So. 2d 366 (Fla. Dist Ct. App. 2003). https://casetext.com/case/bridges-v-state-37
In-text citation: (Bridges v. State, 2003)
General Format
The official name of the act. | Section symbol | U.S.C. Title Number | Abbreviation of code cited
Example of Federal Statute
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. § 102, 42 U.S.C. § 4332.
Example of State Statute
Consumer Credit Code, Okla. Stat. tit. 14A, § 6-203 (1996).
The Declaration does not need to be included in your works cited page and can be referenced in your paper along with the paragraph being cited. Ex: "... in the Declaration of Independence para. 2 (U.S. 1776)."
Format:
U.S. Const. amend. xxx. Or : U.S. Const. art. xxx, § x.
Example (4th Amendment of the Constitution):
U.S. Const. amend. IV.
In-text citation: (U.S. Const. amend. IV).
Narrative: Amendment IV to the U.S. Constitution...