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How to Cite a Court Case in Science (current)

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

Science Reference List Format

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

Science Example for a Court Case

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

1. Harrington v. Board of Regents (2016)vol. 812.

Matching in-text citation: (1)

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your court case.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Science (current) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Science 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: science.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 Science?
To cite a court case in Science (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Science format for a court case citation?
The Science format for a court case is: 1. Harrington v. Board of Regents (2016)vol. 812.
What does the in-text citation look like for a court case in Science?
In Science, the in-text citation for the example above is (1)

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Cite a Court Case in Other Styles

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