Basic Format:
* Case Name: *Ricci v. DeStefano*
* Court: Supreme Court of the United States
* Volume: 557 U.S.
* Page: 557
* Year: 2009
Full Citation (Legal Style):
*Ricci v. DeStefano*, 557 U.S. 557 (2009).
Explanation:
* Case Name: The case name is italicized and the parties are separated by "v."
* Court: This indicates the court that issued the decision.
* Volume: The volume number for the case in the official reporter (U.S. Reports).
* Page: The page number where the case begins in the reporter.
* Year: The year the decision was issued.
Alternative Citation Formats:
* For a bibliography: You might use a more standard citation style like MLA or APA.
Important Notes:
* Bluebook/ALWD Citation: The format above follows the Bluebook and ALWD citation guides commonly used in legal writing. If you are unsure which citation style to use, consult your instructor or publication guidelines.
* Court Reporter: You may encounter the case cited in other reporters like "United States Reports" (U.S.) or "Supreme Court Reporter" (S.Ct.).
* Online Databases: Many online legal databases, such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, offer automatic citation formatting options.
Let me know if you need any further clarification or have other citation questions!