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Comm 422: Legal Citations

Legal Issues and New Media

Legal Citations

How to interpret a citation. The following is an example of a citation to a United States Supreme Court case:

, 464 U.S. 238 (1984)Silkwood v.Kerr-McGee Corp.

According to this citation, the case begins on page 238 of volume 464 of the United States Reports (abbreviated as U.S.). Additional examples of case citations as well as a list of the major court reporters in the United States (along with their standard abbreviations) can be found in the USC Law Library's Guide to Legal Abbreviations and Citations.


 How to cite The Bluebook:

  • Dworsky, Alan L. , Rev.ed. Buffalo: William S. Hein, 2010 [Ready Reference, KF 245 .D85 2010].User's Guide to the Bluebook

For more detailed information please refer to USC Law Library Guide to Legal Abbreviations and Citations 

Content provided courtesy of the USC Law Library, Guide to Legal Abbreviations and Citations

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