How to Cite California Case Law

When writing a term paper, it is crucial to correctly cite all sources of information both to appear as professional as possible and to avoid being accused of academic plagiarism. Of course, not all sources are easy to cite. Some, such as case laws, need to be cited in a specific manner that is not immediately obvious to the average college student. Luckily, the state of California has published guidelines for the correct citation of California case law.

Instructions

    • 1

      List the name of the case you are citing. This information should appear in italics. For example:

      Jones v. Smith

    • 2

      List the year in which the case occurred, enclosed in parentheses.

      (2009)

    • 3

      List the series and volume of California Official Reports in which the case appears. For example, if the case appears in volume 46 of the 5th series of California Official Reports, you would format your citation as follows:

      46 Cal.5th

    • 4

      List the page number on which the case begins, followed by a comma. For example:

      786,

    • 5

      List the page number you are referencing, followed by a period. For example:

      789.

    • 6

      Ensure that your finished citation appears in the following format:

      Jones v. Smith (2009) 46 Cal.5th 786, 789.

      Remember to italicize the name of the case.

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