How do I cite a court case in Bluebook?

To cite a court case in Bluebook (21st edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the Bluebook format for a court case citation?

The Bluebook format requires specific elements like author, title, date, and source location arranged in a particular order.

What does the in-text citation look like for a court case in Bluebook?

In Bluebook, the in-text citation for the example above is Harrington v. Board of Regents, 812 F.3d 455 (9th Cir. 2016).

How to Cite a Court Case in Bluebook (21st edition)

Learn how to cite a court case or legal decision in Bluebook format (21st edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Bluebook Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Bluebook format for citing a court case in your bibliography:

Bluebook Example for a Court Case

Bluebook does not give a court case an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, formatted by the official Bluebook CSL style definition:

Harrington v. Board of Regents, 812 F.3d 455 (9th Cir. 2016).

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 Bluebook (21st edition) 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Bluebook 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: bluebook.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 Bluebook?: To cite a court case in Bluebook (21st edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Bluebook format for a court case citation?: The Bluebook format requires specific elements like author, title, date, and source location arranged in a particular order.
What does the in-text citation look like for a court case in Bluebook?: In Bluebook, the in-text citation for the example above is Harrington v. Board of Regents, 812 F.3d 455 (9th Cir. 2016).