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Bluebook Rules



Introduction.

The blue pages of The Bluebook contain examples of the citations used by
practitioners. The blue pages may refer you to other rules in The Bluebook, but
you should begin with the rules in the blue pages. To find the relevant Bluebook
rules, look in index. The index will direct you to the relevant rules in the blue
pages. Remember, the rules in the white pages and the examples in the Tables
often show citations using the small cap font. The citations in the blue pages do
not use the small cap font because practitioners do not use the small cap font in
documents written to a court, or in memos. Additionally, the modern trend is to
use italics instead of underline for case names and titles.

If you are having a difficult time learning citations, you may find it helpful to look
at: Linda J. Barris, Understanding and Mastering the Bluebook (2d ed. rev.
printing 2010), which is on reserve in the library. In addition, you may want to do
the exercises in the Interactive Citation Workshop, which is available on
LexisNexis; or the exercises available on CiteStation, which is available on
Westlaw. CALI also has a citation exercise.

This document begins by citing to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1113, which
addresses the citation of authority in California state courts (not the federal courts).
Examples of Bluebook citations follow the court rules. Specifically rule 3.1113
provides:




Cal. Ct. R. 3.1113(c)

(c) Case citation format.

A case citation must include the official report volume and page
number and year of decision. The court must not require any other
form of citation.

In short, this rule means that you provide only the official
reporter cite, when citing to a case that has an official reporter cite.
Do not provide the regional or unofficial reporter cite; nor should you
provide a parallel cite. Remember, this rule applies to citations in
documents that you file in California state courts. For documents you
file in federal courts in California, you will use the regional reporter
citations shown in The Bluebook.

Cal. Ct. R. 3.1113(i):

i. Use of California Style Manual.

A memorandum must follow the style prescribed by either the
California Style Manual or The Bluebook: Uniform System of
Citation, at the option of the party filing the document. The same
style must be used consistently throughout the memorandum.

Although the rule allows attorneys to use either the California Style
Manual or The Bluebook, if you want to look like you know what you
are doing, you will use the California Style Manual when you file a
document is state court and The Bluebook when you file a document
in federal court.
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Cases Rules B4 & 10.

U.S. Supreme Court:

Vernonia Sch. Dist. 47J v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646, 658 n.2 (1995).


Federal Court of Appeal (using a signal):

See Norris v. Risley, 918 F.2d 828, 830 (9th Cir. 1990).


Federal District Court:

United States v. Guitterez, 983 F. Supp. 2d 905, 907 (D. Utah 2003).


California Supreme Court:

Garcia v. Superior Court, 40 Cal. 3d 239, 250 (1985).

Many people want to abbreviate Superior Court as Super. Ct.
This abbreviation appears in Bluebook Table 7. Table 7 applies to
court names that appear in the date parenthetical of a citation; it does
not apply to case names. Table 6 applies to case names, and Superior
Court is not abbreviated under Table 6.


California Court of Appeal:

People v. Wimberly, 5 Cal. App. 4th 773, 775 (1992)

Previous editions of The Bluebook showed that (Ct. App. date) should
follow the reporter cite. This rule has been changed in the 19th
edition. See Rule 10.4(b). The change reflects the practice in
California, because the reader can tell from the citation -- Cal. App.
- that the case was decided by the California Court of Appeal.


Citing to Out of State Supreme Court Cases, which Use Regional Reporters:

Chalfin v. Specter, 233 A.2d 562, 563 (Pa. 1967).


Citing to Out of State Court of Appeal Cases, which Use Regional Reporters:

Torres v. State, 818 S.W.2d 141, 143 (Tex. Ct. App. 1991).

Again, remember, under the California Rules of Court, if the state has
an official reporter, you must cite to the official reporter. Of course,
if you are writing a document for federal court, then you use the
regional reporter.


Short Form Case Citations Rules B4.2 & 10.9.

Cases: Vernonia Sch. Dist. 47J, 515 U.S. at 659.

Provide the first partys name (unless People, United States, or other
similar governmental entity), the volume, reporter, at page.

Id. at 659.

515 U.S. at 659.

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Statutes Rules B5 & 12.

Remember, do not use the small cap font, which appears in Rule 12 & Table 1.

Federal:

42 U.S.C. 1983 (2008)

The Bluebook states that you should cite to the official code.

State:

Cal. Penal Code 187(a) (West 2008)


Short Form:

187(a)

section 187(a) (in a sentence)

See table in Rule 12.10, at 124.


Constitutions Rules B6 & 11.

Remember, do not use the small cap font, which appears in Rule 11.

Federal:

U.S. Const. art. I, 9, cl. 2.

State:

Cal. Const. art. VI, 10.

Rules of Court Rules B5.1.3 & 12.9.3.

Remember, do not use the small cap font, which appears in rule 12.

Federal:

Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2).

State:

Cal. Ct. R. 3.1113



Books Rules B8 & 15.

Remember, do not use the small cap font, which appears in rule 15.

Ellen Alderman & Caroline Kennedy, The Right to Privacy 131-32 (1995)


Law Review Articles Rules B9 & 16.

Remember, do not use the small cap font, which appears in rule 16.

Lead Article George K. Walker, Defining Terms in the 1982 Law of the Sea
Convention III: The International Hydrographic Organization
ECDIS Glossary, 34 Cal. W. Intl L.J. 239, 240 (2004).


Comment Sherrillyn S. Lim, Comment, The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement:
Fostering Confidence and Commitment in Asia,
34 Cal. W. Intl L.J. 301 (2004).