How do I cite a court case in MLA?

To cite a court case in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the MLA format for a court case citation?

The MLA format for a court case is: Case Name. Volume Reporter Page (Court Year).

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

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Case Name)

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.

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: mla.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.

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a court case in MLA?: To cite a court case in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for a court case citation?: The MLA format for a court case is: Case Name. Volume Reporter Page (Court Year).
What does the in-text citation look like for a court case in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Case Name)