I'm in your bluebook citing your articles

April 9, 2009 2:38 PM

Bluebook filter: What is the correct bluebook format (law review footnote style) citation for a court filing?

I'm working on an article, and I forgot my bluebook at home. Can someone please let me know the correct format to cite a court filing. I need to cite to a State Department Statement of Interest in a court case I'm discussing.

I know the docket number of the case, the title of the filing, the filing date, and the citation for the court case. I just can't remember how I'm supposed to format the citation to the actual statement of interest.

Thanks!

posted by Arbac to law & government (2 comments total)

The Bluebook is online.
posted by valkyryn at 2:49 PM on April 9

Full name of the document, as it appears on the filing, must come first, abbreviated only according to rule 10.2.1(c), followed by a pinpoint citation, if any. FUll case citation and the docket number should follow the name of the document and the pinpoint citation. If no decision has yet been rendered on the filing cited, cite the case according to rule 10.5(c), but the date in the parenthetical should be the date on which the filing was made, regardless of subsequent dispositions (eg oral argument). If a decision has been rendered, cite the case according to rule 10.5(a). Always include the docket number whether parenthetically (when there is a reported citation) or as the citation (when no reported citation):
Brief of Petitioner-Appellant at 48, United States v. Ali Saleh Kahlah Al-Marri, No. 03-3674 (7th Cir. Nov. 12, 2003).
Complaint at 17, Kelly v. Wyman, 294 F.Supp. 893 (S.D.N.Y. 1968) (No. 68 Civ. 394).

For purposes of short forms (rule 10.9) a citation to a court document including a case citation suffices as a citation to the case itself. A supra form for the court document, however, does not count for the purposes of the five footnote rule.

As you can see, I've got the book right in front of me if you need further info.
posted by katemonster at 2:49 PM on April 9