The bluepages section located at the start of the bluebook is a miniguide to court documents andor legal memoranda. Signals can also inform a reader what inferential degree exists between the text and cited source. Given the many intricacies of legal citation, introductory signals are often overlooked. Those phrases such as cert denied, introducing a case citation for the action indicated by the explanatory phrase are followed by commas which are not italicized, see rule 2. According to the bluebook signals of different types should be grouped in different citation sentences. Introductory signals guide bluebook citation generator. Directly states the proposition authority referenced and cited no signal more than one authority could be cited but only one is cited because the. The following information regarding the bluebook citation format is an adapted version of the style and formatting guidelines found in the bluebook, 20th ed. Briefs and legal memoranda see court documents and legal memoranda briefs and records, citation of. Mar 23, 2021 italicizethe signal if it is included in the citation sentence. Signals are important because they indicate how a cited authority relates to the text. Introductory signals and citation structure signals indicate the degree of support given by. Directly states the proposition authority referenced and cited no signal more than one authority could be cited but only one is cited because the others.
About the bluebook bluebook guide guides at georgetown. Signals are used to give the relationship of the source you are citing to your text, and how that relates to other material in the citation sentence. Needless to say, it is large, a bit unwieldy, and challenging at first. The bluebook instructs you to underline or italicize the entire case name up to but not including the comma that follows the case name, see rule b10. Introductory signals, also known as citation signals, are words and phrases used in legal writing to indicate to the reader how the writer intends to use a particular legal citation whether it is for support, contradiction, comparison, or background information. Pay close attention to comma usage, placement, and typeface as dictated in the bluebook. Use cleaned up to make your legal writing easier to read. There are also several house citation styles used by legal publishers in their works. The structure of the bluebook legal citation research. Oct 03, 2017 capitalize the first letter of the quotation if it begins your sentence. Bluebook legal citation system bluebook legal citation.
The basics about legal citation libguides at loyola. In formal legal writing, citation sentences should be arranged based on the signals that introduce them, in the following order of precedence. Nov 17, 2020 bluebook legal citation about short form citations in certain circumstances, it is permissible to use a shortened citation to a previously cited authority. Cite the source of the quotation as if the words were original to the court youre citing, and add cleaned up to the citation. It combines detailed, yet easytounderstand, explanations and examples of bluebook rules with different types of exercises, which are also available online. A uniform system of citation is generally the default legal citation manual. Explanation of how to convert bluebook citations to local citation styles found in local courts. A uniform system of citation is a style guide that prescribes the most widely used legal citation system in the united states. At the nations oldest roman catholic law school, notre dame law school encourages students of diverse backgrounds to broaden their social, spiritual, and personal lives while honing their intellectual and professional skills to serve the good of all. Sep 10, 2019 introductory signals, also known as citation signals, are words and phrases used in legal writing to indicate to the reader how the writer intends to use a particular legal citation whether it is for support, contradiction, comparison, or background information. For the rare situations in which neither of these works covers a particular stylistic matter, we. Elements of a citation to legal authorities the bluepages introduction citations to legal authorities are not placed in parentheses. Common building block rules bluebook citation libguides.
As indicated below, those phrases such as affg or overruled by that are followed by a case citation as their direct object are not followed by commas. The bluebook system, however, is subject to the exceptions set forth in this manual. As men of law rely upon a great number of various sources, legal citation also covers the usage of signals that present citations and explain. Bluebook guide libguides at university of illinois law library. Introductory signals are placed before every citation to indicate how the citations relate to the preceding sentence or clause. A bluebook guide for law students suffolk university.
Mar 27, 2020 this book is designed to help firstyear law students master the fundamental bluebook citation rules that will be needed in legal research and writing courses and in legal practice. Bluebook sample citations the law school university of. Include an explanatory parenthetical if the citation requires it. Explanatory information introduction to the bluebook. Aug 14, 2020 verify that the proper typeface, abbreviations, capitalization, and short citation forms if applicable have been used for each type of authority. Bluebook gallagher law library videos library guides at. Feb 02, 2021 phrases that have a case citation as their direct object are not followed by a comma. Essentially, the order of signals is supporting, comparative. In other words, a period should end the string of authorities. Introduction bluebook guide guides at georgetown law library. As with all legal writing, there are two spaces between sentences. Nov 30, 2019 this new book provides a fresh, innovative approach that enables students to master the bluebook citation rules needed in legal research and writing courses and in legal practice. In law, a citation or introductory signal is a set of phrases or words used to clarify the authority. Bluepage rules are sometimes different but are always based upon the normal nonbluepage rules.
In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, the bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one. Capitalizethe signal if it the first word of the sentence. These citations are referred to as short form citations. This relation can be supportive, comparative, or contradictory.
According to the legal studies program, you should use 12 pt. Jan 20, 2021 remember that citations are sentences. It can also act as a bluebook refresher for other law students, clerks, attorneys, judges, and paralegals. The two most prominent citation manuals are the bluebook. The benefits of introduction to basic legal citation are that it is free and viewable in many different formats.
Italicizethe signal if it is included in the citation sentence. Bluebook citation for legal materials purdue writing lab. The yale law journal volume 123 style sheet the yale law journal follows the bluebook. The three main parts of a citation are the signal, the source of authority, and a parenthetical explanation. Times new roman font alongside with oneinch margins. Always check for local court citation rules for court documents. Some statespecific style manuals also provide guidance on legal citation. Signals are used in front of citations to alert the reader as to how that citation is. Unlike many pieces of legal citation that are purely technical, an effective use of signals. Keep in mind the typeface differences between academic documents and non academic legal documents. They are geared toward firstyear law students, summer associates, law clerks, and practitioners. The following information regarding the bluebook citation format is an.
Bluebook legal citation system guide harvard library research. Introduction bluebook guide guides at georgetown law. Bluebook gallagher law library videos library guides. The bluebook lists a number of signals words at the start of a citation that signal what sort of support a source offers. It is now in its 20th edition, more than an inch thick, and consists of over 500 pages of guidance on legal citation. Mar 03, 2021 the bluebook, formally titled the bluebook.
A uniform system of citation has been the goto guide for generations of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals. Thus, the citation forms in the bluebook are designed to provide the information necessary to lead the reader directly to the specific items cited. Legalease bluebook guides bluebook citation generator. A law declaring that one group of citizens shall not be afforded equal. When using a signal, you may want to add information explaining why you are citing a particular source. Bluebook guide libguides at university of illinois law.
Aug 20, 2019 introductory signals, also known as citation signals, are words and phrases used in legal writing to indicate to the reader how the writer intends to use a particular legal citation whether it is for support, contradiction, comparison, or background information. Jun 06, 2017 basic legal citation also includes a description of the significant changes in the bluebook and crossreference tables to the bluebook and alwd guide, as well as links to the indigo book. Despite their cursory treatment in the bluebook, signals are important tools of legal writing. The information here can help anyone who is writing a scholarly legal paper in the united states, including jd students, llm students, and sjd students. Jan 25, 2021 the bluepages at the beginning of the bluebook p. B58 2015 is the most widelyused legal citation guide in the u. About legal citation immigration law research resources. Any punctuation within the citation, speeches and publications, titles of articles, case names, explanatory phrases, latin legal phrases, and introductory signals have to be underlined or italicized. They follow, as much as the blue book rules allow, sentence rules. It is published by the editors of the law journals at columbia university, harvard university, the university of pennsylvania, and yale university. Case name abbreviations table 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z. Identifies authority referred to in text no signal 3. There are also several house citation styles used by legal publishers in. Signals and parentheticals bluebook citation libguides.
Do not use a signal with a citation when you have directly borrowed someone elses words or have paraphrased her words or ideas. A uniform system of citation and the alwd citation manual. Citation signals have different meanings in different u. Using bluebook citation form correctly requires a high degree of attention to detail. Signals are used in front of citations to alert the reader as to how that citation is being used.
Mar 29, 2021 this is a guide to the bluebook system of american legal citation. The bad news bluebook rules are nitpicky in the extreme. Nov 17, 2020 introductory signals appear at the beginning of citation sentences. Essentially, the order of signals is supporting, comparative, contradictory, and general background.
Citing an authority without any preceding word to clarify or qualify its connection to the text no signal represents that the citation directly states the proposition or. The order in which citation sentences should be arranged when immediately following each other. For example, several cases following a see signal must be placed in order according to court, chronology, and sometimes alphabetically. A uniform system of citation, is the style manual for citing to legal documents within the united states. Bluebook videos bluebook 101 library guides at university.
This section provides a brief guide to frequently used bluebook citation rules and sets out several exceptions. The bluebook is currently in its 21st edition, released in june 2020. If you alter the quote yourself, use brackets or an ellipsis. The bluebook index often isolates short form and long form citations. In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, the bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one another about the sources and legal authorities upon. In the legal realm, there is a need for an easytouse, standard set of citation rules. The central function of a legal citation is to allow the reader to efficiently locate the cited source. In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, the bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one another about the sources and legal authorities upon which they rely in their work.
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