How do I cite a court case in CSE?

To cite a court case in CSE (8th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the CSE format for a court case citation?

The CSE format for a court case is: Harrington v. Board of Regents. 2016. [place unknown].

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

In CSE, the in-text citation for the example above is (Harrington v. Board of Regents 2016)

How to Cite a Court Case in CSE (8th edition)

Learn how to cite a court case or legal decision in CSE format (8th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

CSE Reference List Format

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

CSE Example for a Court Case

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

Harrington v. Board of Regents. 2016. [place unknown].

Matching in-text citation: (Harrington v. Board of Regents 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 CSE (8th 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 reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match CSE 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: cse.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 CSE?: To cite a court case in CSE (8th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the CSE format for a court case citation?: The CSE format for a court case is: Harrington v. Board of Regents. 2016. [place unknown].
What does the in-text citation look like for a court case in CSE?: In CSE, the in-text citation for the example above is (Harrington v. Board of Regents 2016)