How to Cite a Court Case in MLA (9th edition)
Learn how to cite a court case or legal decision in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
MLA Works Cited Format
Here is the standard MLA format for citing a court case in your Works Cited page:
Case Name. Volume Reporter Page (Court Year).
MLA Example for a Court Case
A complete MLA reference for a court case, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Harrington v. Board of Regents. F.3d, vol. 812, 2016, p. 455.
Matching in-text citation: (Harrington v. Board of Regents)
MLA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Case Name)
Narrative
The court in Case Name held...
Key MLA Formatting Rules
- Include case name, volume, reporter, page, court, and year.
- Do not italicize the case name in the Works Cited entry.
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 MLA (9th 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.
Generate This Citation Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted MLA citation in seconds.
Cite in MLA Now →