How do I cite a court case in BibTeX?

To cite a court case in BibTeX (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

How to Cite a Court Case in BibTeX (standard)

Learn how to cite a court case or legal decision in BibTeX format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

BibTeX Reference List Format

Here is the standard BibTeX format for citing a court case in your reference list:

BibTeX Example for a Court Case

A complete BibTeX reference for a court case, formatted by the official BibTeX CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

@misc{2016Harrington, year = {2016}, pages = {455}, title = {Harrington v. {Board} of {Regents}}, volume = {812}, }

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your court case.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the BibTeX (standard) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match BibTeX requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: bibtex.csl

Metadata to collect

case name (the parties)
volume number
reporter abbreviation
first page
court
decision year

Common metadata traps

Use the official reporter citation rather than a database URL when one exists.
Check whether your style italicizes the case name in the text but not in the reference entry.

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a court case in BibTeX?: To cite a court case in BibTeX (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the BibTeX format for a court case citation?: The BibTeX format for a court case is: @misc{2016Harrington, year = {2016}, pages = {455}, title = {Harrington v. {Board} of {Regents}}, volume = {812}, }