The basic format for citing U.S. Supreme Court cases is to type these details in order: the case name and a comma, the volume of the U.S. Reporter that contains the case, one space, the abbreviation "U.S.," and the page number on which the case begins. Finally, set off in parentheses the year the court issued its opinion.
For example: Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000).
To follow APA citing format for federal courts below the Supreme Court, type the case name, comma, volume number, space, volume abbreviation and page number. Set off in parentheses the abbreviated name of the court that issued the opinion and the year of the opinion. The Federal Reporter, abbreviated F., F.2d or F.3d, publishes cases decided by the circuit courts of appeal. The Federal Supplement, abbreviated F.Supp or F.Supp2d, publishes district court opinions.
For example: Senna v. Patrissi, 5 F.3d 18 (2nd Cir. 1993), for an appellate court decision; or Universal City Studios, Inc., v. Reimerdes, et al., 111 F.Supp.2d 294 (S.D.N.Y. 2000), for a circuit court decision.
State supreme court opinions are published in regional reporters. APA format for citing state supreme court opinions follows a similar format as for other courts: case name, reporter volume, reporter abbreviation and volume page number, followed by the state's abbreviation and year set off in parentheses.
For example: Gore v. Harris, 772 So.2d 1243 (Fla. 2000).
State appellate court citations follow a similar format: Bunnell v. Dalton Construction, Inc., 210 Or.App 138 (Ct. App. 2006).
For the case name in a citation, list the parties by their last names or a business or other organization by its corporate or business name. Separate parties with the lower case letter v. You may use abbreviations such as Inc., Corp. and Univ. to shorten the case name.