How Do We Cite or Reference Law Cases?

Whether you are in law school, work in the legal profession or just writing a history paper that references cases, opinions and legal precedents, it is imperative to cite legal cases correctly. This not only helps readers find the referenced case for themselves, but it also gives credit to all involved in the case in a succinct, well-defined way.

Instructions

  1. Citing Legal Cases in Modern Language Association (MLA) Format

    • 1

      Find all references to the case in the paper. To make in-text citations, write the name of the case with the last name of the plaintiff followed by "v." and the name of the defendant. While abbreviations can be used, the first names of both parties must be written completely. Names of law cases must also be underlined or italicized. If the year the case was decided was not mentioned earlier in the sentence, go to the end of the name of the case and include the year in parenthesis. For example: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857).

    • 2

      Create a new document and title it "Works Cited." References included on the Works Cited page should be organized alphabetically and be formatted according to MLA guidelines. While MLA frequently makes use of abbreviations, it is important to note that the first word of each party's name must be spelled out completely. After the first word, abbreviations can be used. Names of cases are not underlined or italicized on this page. After the names of the plaintiff v. the defendant have been written, leave a space and write the docket number, followed by U.S. and the page number, then a period. Write the name of the court that made the decision and include the year it was decided, followed by a period. For example: Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393.1857.

    • 3

      Be consistent. Be sure you follow either APA Style formatting or MLA Style formatting exclusively. Do not go back and forth between both in the same document.

    Citing Legal Cases in American Psychological Association (APA) Format

    • 4

      Find all references to the case in the paper. To make in-text citations for U.S. Supreme Court decisions, go to the end of any sentence or section that makes reference to the case and place parenthesis before any punctuation mark. Inside the parenthesis, write the last name of the plaintiff, leave a space and write "v." followed by the last name of the defendant. Place a comma after the defendant's last name and write the year the case was closed. For example: (Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 1954). If the case is mentioned by name in the text, the citation should just reference the year the case closed in parenthesis. For example: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954).

    • 5

      Create a new document and title it "References." References should be organized alphabetically and be formatted as: last name of the plaintiff v. last name of the defendant followed by a comma, then the volume number, followed by U.S. and the page number. The year the decision was decided should be in parenthesis and followed by a period. Then, write "Retrieved from" and include the book or website using APA format. For example: Sweatt v. Painter, 339 U.S. 629 (1950). Retrieved from Cornell University Law School, Legal Information Institute website: http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0339_0629_ZS.html

    • 6

      Be consistent. Be sure you follow either APA Style formatting or MLA Style formatting exclusively. Do not go back and forth between both in the same document.

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