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Bluebook Citations: Cases

Guide to basic legal citations to the 20th ed. of The Bluebook.

Hawaii Specific

Citations in this Guide have been updated to the 20th edition of The Bluebook, A Uniform System of Citation.  9/30/2015

The Bluebook requires citation to the regional reporters only, but many courts in Hawaii follow this citation guide: https://law-hawaii.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=8585606, and use parallel citations to Hawaii Reports as well as the Pacific Reporter.
 
Using the linked guide, all references to Hawaii Reports after volume 75 would use Hawaiʻi with the okina. Thus, Dannenberg v. State, 139 Haw. 39, 383 P.3d 1177 (2016) becomes Dannenberg v. State, 139 Hawaiʻi 39, 383 P.3d 1177 (2016). 
 
According to the Bluebook, cases from the Intermediate Court of Appeals use Haw. Ct. App. in the parenthetical, but the linked guide uses only App. in the parenthetical.

What's the Correct Citation?

The People v. Shamrock Foods Company, 11 P. 3rd 956, 968 (California 2000). 

Of the choices, below, which one is closest to being a properly formed Bluebook citation?

What's the Correct Citation?
The People v. Shamrock Foods, 11 P. 3d 956, 968 (2000).: 178 votes (10.39%)
People v. Shamrock Foods, Inc., 11 P.3d 956, 968 (2000).: 101 votes (5.9%)
People v. Shamrock Foods Co., 11 P.3d 956, 968 (2000).: 305 votes (17.81%)
People v. Shamrock Foods Co., 11 P.3d 956, 968 (Cal. 2000).: 1129 votes (65.91%)
Total Votes: 1713

Cases

Citations are to the 20th edition of The Bluebook, A Uniform System of Citation.

Rule 10 Cases (p. 94)

Other rules used when citing cases:  B10, R10, T1, T6, T10.

Cite to page 707 of a 1995 case between Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior, et al. versus Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon.  It is found in volume 515 of United States Reports beginning on page 687. 

CORRECT CITATION:  Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Cmtys. for a Great Or., 515 U.S. 687, 707 (1995).

CORRECT CITATION:  Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Cmtys. for a Great Or., 515 U.S. 687, 707 (1995).

NOTE:  Both citations, above, are correct.  One can either underline or italicize the case name.  Just be consistent.  See page 3, Typeface, and Rule B2.

Cite to a 2008 case from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals between Deborah Fellner and Tri-Union Seafoods, L.L.C.  It is found in volume 539 of the Federal Reporter Third Series and begins on page 237.  The material we are citing is found on pages 240 and 241.

CORRECT CITATION:  Fellner v. Tri-Union Seafoods, 539 F.3d 237, 240-41 (3d Cir. 2008).

CORRECT CITATION:  Fellner v. Tri-Union Seafoods, 539 F.3d 237, 240-41 (3d Cir. 2008).  

NOTE:  According to Rule 10.2.1(h) Business firm designations, the L.L.C. is omitted in the case name.  No space between F. and 3d according to Rule 6.1(a) Spacing.  [Mark the location of this Rule in your Bluebook.]

R10.2.1 Case Names - et al., d/b/a, property as party

Case names often require special handling.  Omit words indicating multiple parties, such as “et al.”

Also omit alternative names given for the first-listed party on either side, such as a corporation d/b/a (doing business as) another name.  Use the first name, not the d/b/a name.

Where property is a party, use its common name. 

United States v. One Cardboard Box Containing $50,900.00 in Mutilated United States Currency, 1:09-cv-00086-CKK (D.D.C. Jan. 14, 2009).

United States v. $4,245,800.00 in Mutilated United States Currency, 1:12-cv-01298-EGS (D.D.C.  Aug. 6, 2012).