How to Cite a Court Case in Harvard (Cite Them Right)
Learn how to cite a court case or legal decision in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Harvard Reference List Format
Here is the standard Harvard format for citing a court case in your reference list:
Case Name [Year] Volume Reporter Page.
Harvard Example for a Court Case
A complete Harvard reference for a court case, formatted by the official Harvard CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Harrington v. Board of Regents (2016) F.3d.
Matching in-text citation: (Harrington v. Board of Regents, 2016)
Harvard In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Case Name, Year)
Narrative
The court held in Case Name (Year)...
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 Harvard (Cite Them Right) 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 Harvard requirements.
Generate This Citation Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted Harvard citation in seconds.
Cite in Harvard Now →