How do you cite a legal case?

Question

Ok, the reason I need some help is cause I'm failing in my court drama class. My teacher asked me to go find info. on the internet, and I've been searching for this but I can't find anything! If you've got any websites that might help me find and cite legal reference material that would be nice. I'd be extremely grateful.

Answer 1

I have also included websites for how to read one and the purpose of the citation.

..........Cornell Law School..............
http://library.lawschool.cornell.edu/guides/legresearch/1_goodcase.html

........How to Cite Judicial Opinions....
http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/2-200.htm

...........How To Read A Cite...........
http://www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/bkshelf/l_libr/read_cite.htm

.............How to Cite Articles...........
http://www.hwwilson.com/Documentation/WilsonWeb/howtocite/howtocite.htm

........ Purposes of Legal Citation..........
http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/

...........Legal Citation Guide..............
http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/find/citation/lawcite.html

Answer 2

You cite a legal case using the following format: Name of parties (which usually will be in italics - Plaintiff is always first), volume/reporter/page, (court). For example: Kootenai Envtl. Alliance, Inc. v. Panhandle Yacht Club, Inc., 671 P.2d 1085 (Idaho 1983). This means that Kootenai was the Plaintiff, Panhandle Yacht Club was the defendant. 671 P.2d 1085 - that means volume 671 of the Pacific 2nd reporter, page 1085 is the first page of the case. The (Idaho 1983) means that the case was decided by the Idaho Supreme Court in 1983.

Another example: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). That was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973, and will be found at page 113 of volume 410 of the U.S. Reports.

The definitive authority for legal citations is "The Bluebook." The website is: http://www.legalbluebook.com. You can't get the full Bluebook there, but if you go to the "about" link you can see some excerpts. Go to: http://www.legalbluebook.com/about.shtml and follow the "view a Bluepages excerpt." That will give you what you are looking for.

Answer 3

http://www.comm.unt.edu/faculty/gossett/apacite.htm