Bluebook Citation Format

The Bluebook is the standard citation system for U.S. legal documents.

Case Citations

• Full: Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 456, 458 (9th Cir. 2020)
• Short: Smith, 123 F.3d at 459
• Id.: Id. at 460

Statute Citations

• Federal: 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018)
• State: Cal. Civ. Code § 1542 (West 2020)

Rules

• Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6)
• Fed. R. Evid. 702

Secondary Sources

• Restatements: Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 90 (Am. L. Inst. 1981)
• Treatises: 5 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216 (3d ed. 2004)

Common Signals

• See (direct support)
• See also (additional support)
• Cf. (analogous support)
• But see (contrary authority)