An Introduction to Legal Citation Fall 2003

1
An Introduction to Legal CitationFall 2003

• Learning How to Use the Bluebook

2
Beating the Bluebook Blues

• The Bluebook A Uniform System of Citation is
  your resource for drafting legal citations.
• Note A.L.W.D. Manual

3
Parts of the bluebook

• 1) The introduction- gives you some sample
  citations and identifies the parts.
• 2) Practitioners notes adapt some law review
  examples to the simpler style used in legal
  memoranda. See P.1.
• 3) The Rules 1-21.
• 4) Tables (1-17) T.1- Jurisdictions
  T.6-Abbreviations etc.
• 5) Index- to locate rules
• 6) Back Cover Quick Reference

4
Getting Familiar with the Bluebook

• Rules 1 to 9 sets forth general standards and
  style to be used throughout legal writing.
• Rules 10 to 21 present specific rules for cases,
  statutes, books, periodicals and so forth.
• Rule 10 deals with citing cases
• Rule 12 deals with citing statutes.

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A case citation includes

• The case name, the source where case may be
  found, and parenthetical information including
  the court, jurisdiction, the date.
• Edgarv.Riley ex rel. Riley,725So.2d982(Ala
  .Civ.App.1998).

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Edgarv.Riley ex rel. Riley,725So.2d982(Ala
.Civ.App.1998).

• Purpose and Use of Citations
• The purpose of a citation is to tell the reader
  where to find the source of information cited
• To provide information about the weight and
  persuasiveness of the source
• To convey the type and degree of support
• And to demonstrate that a position is well
  supported and researched.

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Rule 6.1Line Spacing

• In general close up all adjacent single
  capitals
• N.W.
• S.D.N.Y.
• Do not close up single capitals with longer
  abbreviations
• D.Mass
• S.Ct.

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Rule 6.1 Line Spacing

• Individual numbersincluding both numeralsand
  ordinals, are treated as single capitals
• P.2d
• S.E.2d.
• BUT
• So.2d
• F.Supp.2d

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Where to Cite

• In legal memorandum and appellate briefs, you
  cite legal authority within the text rather than
  in footnotes.
• In other forms of writing such as law review
  articles, you cite legal authority in footnotes.

10
Citation Ciphering

• For the next several classes, we will cover how
  to properly cite cases and statutes.BUT THATS
  NOT ALL!You also get to playCitation
  Ciphering.
• When you see either ofthese images, your
  teamshould agree on acite for points (5,4, 3)

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Rule 10 How to Cite Case Law

• 1) Citing Cases Generally
• 2) Abbreviations of Case Names
• 3) Citing State Cases
• 4) Citing Federal Cases
• 5) Short Form Citations

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Rule 10 How to Cite Case Law

• 1) Citing Cases Generally
• 2) Abbreviations of Case Names
• 3) Citing State Cases
• 4) Citing Federal Cases
• 5) Short Form Citations

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Case Citations Generally Rule 10.2

• Case names are cited . . .
• in the text of a document
• Or
• in a citation clause or sentence.

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Citations in the Text Rule 10.2.1

• Example of a citation within a textual sentence
• In McCaster v. Jackson, 833 So. 2d 36 (Ala.
  2002), a delivery person allegedly sustained
  injuries while running from a mixed breed dog.

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The Citation Sentence Rule 10.2.2

• A citation sentence is separated from text just
  as any other sentence would be. It begins with a
  a capital letter and ends with a period. Example
  of a a citation sentence
• The owner or keeper of an animal will be charged
  with the knowledge of the propensities of the
  breed of the animal that he or she owns.
  Humphries v. Rice, 600 So. 2d 975, 976 (Ala.
  1992).

16
Pinpoint Cites

• When citing to a specific passage within a
  decision, cite to the specific page orpages on
  which the passageappears.
• For ExampleOwen v. Hampson, So. 2d 245, 247
  (Ala. 1952)

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When to and not to use pinpoint citations

• Pin cite rules of law.
• Pin cite any of the courts reasoning.
• Pin cite direct quotes.
• The Nots
• Do not pin cite or even cite the facts of a case.
• Provide a full cite but not a pinpoint cite the
  fist time you introduce a case.

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Rules for Citing Cases Rule 10.2.1
(a)-(j)/10.2.2

• Use the last name of the party for each side. If
  one side has more than one party, use only the
  name of the first party (not et al.) Rule 10.2.1
  (a)
• Abbreviate on the relation of, for the use
  of, on behalf of, and similar expressions to
  ex rel. 10.2.1(b)
• Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co.,
• Generally you may omit The as the first word of
  a partys name. 10.2.1(d)

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General Rules for Citing CasesRule 10.2.1
(a)-(j)

• Also omit geographical terms such as State of
  or Commonwealth of except when citing decisions
  of the court of that state in which case only use
  the geographical term but omit the of.
  10.2.1(f)
• For example
• State v. Davis
• Omit City of and like expressions unless the
  expression begins a party name
• Mayor of Tuscaloosa v. Warner
• BUT Hale v. City of Tuscaloosa

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General Rules for Citing Cases Rule 10.2.1
(a)-(j)

• Omit Inc., Ltd.L.L.C., F.S.B. and similar
  terms if the name also contains a word such as
  Co., Corp.. or Assn, clearly indicating
  that the party is a business firm. Rule 10.2.1(h)
• Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co.,
• Rather than
• Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co.,
  Inc.

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Citation Ciphering Case Names

• What is the correct case name (the first part of
  the cite which identifies the parties, not the
  full cite) where Billy Bob Thorton and Angela
  Joly sue The Miami Herald.
• Thorton v. Miami Herald
• 10.2.1(a) and (d)

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Citation Ciphering Case Names

• What is the correct case name of an memo before
  an Alabama court, where Rebecca Keto on behalf
  of her daughter Nicole sues the State of Alabama.
• Keto ex rel. Keto v. State,
• 10.2.1(b) and (f)

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Rule 10 How to Cite Case Law

• 1) Citing Cases Generally
• 2) Abbreviations of Case Names
• 3) Citing State Cases
• 4) Citing Federal Cases
• 5) Short Form Citations

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Abbreviating Case Names

• Abbreviating varies somewhat depending upon
  whether you are using a textual sentence or a
  citation sentence.
• If the case names appear in the text, you may
  only abbreviate certain widely recognized
  acronyms (like NAACP and CBS) and eight words
  listed in the blue book. See 10.2.1(c) and
  6.1(b).

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Abbreviating Case Names

• However, if the case name appears in a citation
  you must use the abbreviations listed in Table 6
  (common abbreviations) and in Table 11
  (abbreviations for geographical terms). (See
  Rule 10.2.2)
• Never abbreviate the United States.
• United States v. Langley

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Citation Ciphering Abbreviating

• What is the correct case name in a textual
  sentence, where the Bates Association sues the
  Central Intelligence Agency?
• Bates Assn v. CIA
• 10.2.1 (c) and 6.1(b)

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Citation Ciphering Abbreviating

• What is the correct case name in a citation
  sentence, where the Grimes sues Liberty National
  Life Insurance Company?
• Grimes v. Liberty Natl Life Ins. Co.,
• 10.2.2 (a) and T. 6

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Rule 10 How to Cite Case Law

• 1) Citing Cases Generally
• 2) Abbreviations of Case Names
• 3) Citing State Cases
• 4) Citing Federal Cases
• 5) Short Form Citations

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Citing State Courts (Rule 10.4(b)/T.1)

• In general , your cite should indicate the state
  and the court of decision in the parenthetical.
• Smith v. State, 745 So. 2d 922 (Ala. Crim. App.
  1999).
• BUT, do not include the name of the court, if the
  decision is the highest court of the state.
• Britton v. Doehring, 242 So. 2d 666 (Ala. 1970).

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Citing State Courts (Rule 10.4/T.1)

• However, if the name of the state appears in the
  REPORTER TITLE then you should leave it out of
  the parenthetical.
• Tomcsik v. Kramer, 499 Mass. 376 (1868).

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Citing State Courts Rule 10.4(b)

• Check Table T.1 for each jurisdiction.
• Alabama
• For the Alabama Supreme Court, cite to So. or So.
  2d. If therein otherwise cite . . .
• Britton v. Doehring, 242 So. 2d 666 (Ala. 1970).
• For the Court of Appeals cite to So. or So. 2d if
  therein otherwise site to Ala. App.
• Smith v. State, 745 So. 2d 922 (Ala. Crim. App.
  1999).

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Citation Ciphering State Courts

• What is correct cite in a citation sentence for a
  Alabama Supreme Court case decided in 1995 where
  Williams sues Hill reported at 658 So. 2d 381?
• Williams v. Hill, 658 So. 2d 381 (Ala. 1995).

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Citation Ciphering State Courts

• How about specific material in an Alabama Civil
  Court of Appeals case on page 743, of a case
  reported at 671 So. 2d 741 and decided in 1995
  where Scott sues Donkel?
• Scott v. Donkel, 671 So. 2d 741, 743 (Ala. Civ.
  App. 1995).