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How to Cite a Court Case in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite a court case or legal decision in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a court case in your bibliography:

Case Name, Volume Reporter Page (Court Year).

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Case Name Year)

Narrative

In Case Name (Year), the court ruled...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

  • Include court name, volume, reporter abbreviation, page, and year.
  • Italicize case names in text but not in footnotes or bibliography.

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 Chicago (17th edition) 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

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Cite a Court Case in Other Styles

Court Case in APACourt Case in MLACourt Case in HarvardCourt Case in VancouverCourt Case in IEEECourt Case in AMACourt Case in TurabianCourt Case in CSECourt Case in BibTeXCourt Case in NatureCourt Case in ACSCourt Case in OSCOLACourt Case in BluebookCourt Case in AGLCCourt Case in ASACourt Case in APSACourt Case in AAACourt Case in NLMCourt Case in ACMCourt Case in APSCourt Case in AIPCourt Case in CellCourt Case in ScienceCourt Case in PLOSCourt Case in BMJCourt Case in LancetCourt Case in JAMACourt Case in Elsevier HarvardCourt Case in Springer

Cite Other Sources in Chicago

Website in ChicagoBook in ChicagoJournal Article in ChicagoYouTube Video in ChicagoPodcast in ChicagoNewspaper Article in ChicagoPDF in ChicagoInterview in ChicagoSocial Media Post in ChicagoGovernment Document in ChicagoDissertation or Thesis in ChicagoConference Paper in ChicagoLecture or PowerPoint in ChicagoImage or Photograph in ChicagoMovie or Film in ChicagoTV Show in ChicagoSong or Music in ChicagoPatent in ChicagoEncyclopedia Entry in ChicagoDictionary Entry in ChicagoDataset in ChicagoSoftware or App in ChicagoPress Release in ChicagoReport in Chicago

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