Make note of the case name, the year the case was decided upon and the name and volume number of the reporter you are using to view the case.
Use this format when citing court decisions within the text of your paper: (Name v. Name, Year). For example, when citing the 1987 case of Smith versus Jones, you would put (Smith v. Jones, 1987) within the sentence that needs the citation. Or, if you have mentioned the name of the case within the sentence already, just put the year in parentheses. For example, “In the case of Smith v. Jones (1987), the judge decided that Smith was guilty.”
Use this format when citing a court decision in a reference list: Name v. Name, volume number reporter abbreviation page number (court name). For example: Smith v. Jones, 756 S.E. 2d 233 (NC App. Ct. 1987).
Make a note of the statute’s name, year and location in the U.S. Code or state equivalent.
Use this format when citing statutes within the text of your paper: Name of Act (Year) or Name of Act of Year. For example, The U.S. Education Act (1999) reduced high school dropout rates. Or, The U.S. Education Act of 1999 reduced high school dropout rates.
Use this format when citing statutes in a reference list: Name of Act § Section number, volume number U.S.C. § Section number (Year). For example, The U.S. Education Act of 1999 § 322, 34 U.S.C. § 2338 (1999)