Legal Research Guide

Legal citation has a different structure than other citation formats. There are different formats, abbreviations, etc. 

Format for Statutes and Cases

Federal Statutes:
Statute Name, Title# U.S.C. § Section# (Year).

U.S. Supreme Court Cases:
Party v. Party, Volume# Reporter Page# (Year).

U.S. Court of Appeals Cases:
Party v. Party, Volume# Reporter Page# (Court Year).

U.S. District Court Cases:
Party v. Party, Volume# Reporter Page# (Court Year).

State Statutes:
StateCode § Section# (Year).

State Court Cases:
Party v. Party, Volume# Reporter Page# (StateCourt Year).

Format for Sources
 

Articles:
Author Name, Title, Volume# Journal Page# (Year).

Books:
Volume# Author Name, Title Page# (Edition Year).

United States Supreme Court is abbreviated as:

U.S.

The U.S. Courts of Appeals are abbreviated as:

• First Circuit - 1st Cir.
• Second Circuit - 2d Cir.
• Third Circuit - 3d Cir.
• Fourth Circuit - 4th Cir.
• Fifth Circuit - 5th Cir.
• Sixth Circuit - 6th Cir.
• Seventh Circuit - 7th Cir.
• Eighth Circuit - 8th Cir.
• Ninth Circuit - 9th Cir.
• Tenth Circuit - 10th Cir.
• Eleventh Circuit - 11th Cir.

The State Supreme Courts are abbreviated as:

• Alabama Supreme Court - Ala.
• Alaska Supreme Court - Alaska
• Arizona Supreme Courts - Ariz.
• Arkansas Supreme Court - Ark.
• California Supreme Court - Cal.
• Colorado Supreme Court - Colo.
• Connecticut Supreme Court - Conn.
• Delaware Supreme Court - Del.
• Florida Supreme Court - Fla.
• Georgia Supreme Court - Ga.
• Hawaii Supreme Court - Haw.
• Idaho Supreme Court - Idaho
• Illinois Supreme Court - Ill.
• Indiana Supreme Court - Ind.
• Iowa Supreme Court - Iowa
• Kansas Supreme Court - Kan.
• Kentucky Supreme Court - Ky.
• Louisiana Supreme Court - La.
• Maine Supreme Court - Me.
• Maryland Supreme Court - Md.
• Massachusetts Supreme Court - Mass.
• Michigan Supreme Court - Mich.
• Minnesota Supreme Court - Minn.
• Mississippi Supreme Court - Miss.
• Missouri Supreme Court - Mo.
• Montana Supreme Court - Mont.
• Nebraska Supreme Court - Neb.
• Nevada Supreme Court - Nev.
• New Hampshire Supreme Court - N.H.
• New Jersey Supreme Court - N.J.
• New Mexico Supreme Court - N.M.
• New York Supreme Court - N.Y.
• North Carolina Supreme Court - N.C.
• North Dakota Supreme Court - N.D.
• Ohio Supreme Court - Ohio
• Oklahoma Supreme Court - Okla.
• Oregon Supreme Court - Or.
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court - Pa.
• Rhode Island Supreme Court - R.I.
• South Carolina Supreme Court - S.C.
• South Dakota Supreme Court - S.D.
• Tennessee Supreme Court - Tenn.
• Texas Supreme Court - Tex.
• Utah Supreme Court - Utah
• Vermont Supreme Court - Vt.
• Virginia Supreme Court - Va. 
• Washington Supreme Court - Wash.
• West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals - W. Va.
• Wisconsin Supreme Court - Wis.
• Wyoming Supreme Court - Wyo.