How to Cite a Supreme Court Case

If you’re working on a legal research paper, it’s important to know how to cite Supreme Court cases correctly. A proper citation is necessary to give credit to the sources you have used and to allow readers to locate the cases you are referencing. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to cite a Supreme Court case, including the required elements and citation formats1. Introduction

When citing a Supreme Court case, it’s important to follow a specific format to ensure that your citation is complete and accurate. In general, a Supreme Court citation includes the case name, volume and reporter, page number, and year of decision. Additionally, pinpoint citations may be included to indicate the specific location of the cited material within the case.

The Basic Structure of a Supreme Court Citation

A Supreme Court citation typically follows the following structure:

• Case Name
• Volume and Reporter
• Page Number
• Year of Decision

For example, the citation for Brown v. Board of Education would be:

• Brown v. Board of Education
• 347 U.S. 483
• 1954

Case Name

The case name should be written in italics and include the names of the parties involved. The first party listed is the petitioner, while the second party is the respondent. For example, in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, Brown is the petitioner and Board of Education is the respondent.

Volume and Reporter

The volume and reporter indicate the source where the case was published. The volume number refers to the volume of the reporter in which the case was published, while the reporter is the title of the publication. In the citation for Brown v. Board of Education, “347” refers to the volume number of the United States Reports, which is the official reporter for Supreme Court cases. “U.S.” indicates the title of the reporter.

Page Number

The page number indicates the specific page where the case begins. In the citation for Brown v. Board of Education, “483” refers to the page where the case begins in the United States Reports.

Year of Decision

The year of decision indicates the year in which the Supreme Court issued its decision. In the citation for Brown v. Board of Education, “1954” refers to the year in which the Supreme Court issued its decision.

Pinpoint Citations

Pinpoint citations are used to indicate the specific location of the cited material within the case. They are typically included after the page number and separated by a comma. For example, a pinpoint citation for Brown v. Board of Education might look like this:

• Brown v. Board of Education
• 347 U.S. 483, 496
• 1954

This citation indicates that the material being cited can be found on page 496 of the United States Reports.

Citation Formats

There are several citation formats that can be used when citing Supreme Court cases, including the Bluebook format and the APA format. Here are examples of each:

Bluebook format:

• Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483, 495-96 (1954).

APA format:

• Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).

It’s important to note that the specific citation format you use may depend on the requirements of your paper or the preferences of your instructor or publisher.

Tips for Citing Supreme Court Cases

When citing Supreme Court cases, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Always double-check your citations to ensure that they are accurate and complete.
• Use the correct citation format for your paper or publication.
• If you’re unsure about how to cite a particular case, consult a style guide or ask your instructor for guidance.
• Consider using an online citation generator, but be sure to double-check the generated citation for accuracy.

Conclusion

Citing Supreme Court cases correctly is an important part of legal research and writing. By following the guidelines and tips outlined in this article, you can ensure that your citations are accurate, complete, and in the proper format.

FAQs

1. What is a Supreme Court citation? A Supreme Court citation is a reference to a case heard by the United States Supreme Court, typically including the case name, volume and reporter, page number, and year of decision.
2. Why is it important to cite Supreme Court cases? Citing Supreme Court cases is important to give credit to the sources you have used and to allow readers to locate the cases you are referencing.
3. What is the difference between a reporter and a volume? The volume number refers to the volume of the reporter in which the case was published, while the reporter is the title of the publication.
4. How do I find the correct citation for a Supreme Court case? You can find the correct citation for a Supreme Court case by searching for the case name in a legal database or consulting a legal citation guide.
5. Can I use an online citation generator for Supreme Court cases? Yes, but be sure to double-check the generated citation for accuracy before including it in your paper or publication.