How do I cite a court case in Vancouver?

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

What is the Vancouver format for a court case citation?

The Vancouver 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 Vancouver?

In Vancouver, the in-text citation for the example above is (1)

How to Cite a Court Case in Vancouver (ICMJE)

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

Vancouver Reference List Format

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

Case Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Year).

Vancouver Example for a Court Case

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

1. Harrington v. Board of Regents. Vol. 812, F.3d. 2016. p. 455.

Matching in-text citation: (1)

Vancouver In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(1)

Narrative

The court (1) held...

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 Vancouver (ICMJE) 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 Vancouver 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: vancouver.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

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a court case in Vancouver?: To cite a court case in Vancouver (ICMJE), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Vancouver format for a court case citation?: The Vancouver 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 Vancouver?: In Vancouver, the in-text citation for the example above is (1)