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An Introduction to Legal Citation Fall 2003

An Introduction to Legal Citation Fall 2003. Learning How to Use the Bluebook. Beating the Bluebook Blues. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is your resource for drafting legal citations. *Note A.L.W.D. Manual. Parts of the bluebook.

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An Introduction to Legal Citation Fall 2003

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  1. An Introduction to Legal CitationFall 2003 Learning How to Use the Bluebook

  2. Beating the Bluebook Blues • The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citationis your resource for drafting legal citations. • *Note A.L.W.D. Manual

  3. Parts of the bluebook • 1) The introduction- gives you some sample citations and identifies the parts. • 2) Practitioner’s notes adapt some law review examples to the simpler style used in legal memoranda. See P.1. • 3) The Rules 1-21. • 4) Tables (1-17) T.1- Jurisdictions T.6-Abbreviations etc. • 5) Index- to locate rules • 6) Back Cover Quick Reference

  4. Getting Familiar with the Bluebook • Rules 1 to 9 sets forth general standards and style to be used throughout legal writing. • Rules 10 to 21 present specific rules for cases, statutes, books, periodicals and so forth. • Rule 10 deals with citing cases • Rule 12 deals with citing statutes.

  5. A case citation includes: • The case name,the source where case may be found, and parenthetical information including the court, jurisdiction, the date. • Edgar^v.^Riley ex rel. Riley,^725^So.^2d^982^(Ala.^Civ.^App.^1998).

  6. Edgar^v.^Riley ex rel. Riley,^725^So.^2d^982^(Ala.^Civ.^App.^1998). • Purpose and Use of Citations : • The purpose of a citation is to tell the reader where to find the source of information cited; • To provide information about the weight and persuasiveness of the source; • To convey the type and degree of support; • And to demonstrate that a position is well supported and researched.

  7. Rule 6.1Line Spacing • In general close up all adjacent single capitals: • N.W. • S.D.N.Y. • Do not close up single capitals with longer abbreviations: • D.^Mass • S.^Ct.

  8. Rule 6.1; Line Spacing • Individual numbersincluding both numeralsand ordinals, are treated as single capitals: • P.2d • S.E.2d. • BUT • So.^2d • F.^Supp.^2d

  9. Where to Cite • In legal memorandum and appellate briefs, you cite legal authority within the text rather than in footnotes. • In other forms of writing such as law review articles, you cite legal authority in footnotes.

  10. Citation Ciphering • For the next several classes, we will cover how to properly cite cases and statutes.BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!You also “get” to playCitation Ciphering. • When you see either ofthese images, your teamshould agree on acite for points (5,4, 3…)

  11. Rule 10: How to Cite Case Law • 1) Citing Cases Generally • 2) Abbreviations of Case Names • 3) Citing State Cases • 4) Citing Federal Cases • 5) Short Form Citations

  12. Rule 10: How to Cite Case Law • 1) Citing Cases Generally • 2) Abbreviations of Case Names • 3) Citing State Cases • 4) Citing Federal Cases • 5) Short Form Citations

  13. Case Citations Generally; Rule 10.2 Case names are cited . . . in the text of a document Or in a citation clause or sentence.

  14. Citations in the Text; Rule 10.2.1 • Example of a citation within a textual sentence: • InMcCaster v. Jackson, 833 So. 2d 36 (Ala. 2002), a delivery person allegedly sustained injuries while running from a mixed breed dog.

  15. The Citation Sentence; Rule 10.2.2 • A citation sentence is separated from text just as any other sentence would be. It begins with a a capital letter and ends with a period. Example of a a citation sentence: • The owner or keeper of an animal will be charged with the knowledge of the propensities of the breed of the animal that he or she owns. Humphries v. Rice, 600 So. 2d 975, 976 (Ala. 1992).

  16. Pinpoint Cites • When citing to a specific passage within a decision, cite to the specific page orpages on which the passageappears. • For Example:Owen v. Hampson, So. 2d 245, 247 (Ala. 1952)

  17. When to and not touse pinpoint citations • Pin cite rules of law. • Pin cite any of the court’s reasoning. • Pin cite direct quotes. • The Nots • Do not pin cite or even cite the facts of a case. • Provide a full cite but not a pinpoint cite the fist time you introduce a case.

  18. Rules for Citing Cases:Rule 10.2.1 (a)-(j)/10.2.2 • Use the last name of the party for each side. If one side has more than one party, use only the name of the first party (not et al.) Rule 10.2.1 (a) • Abbreviate “on the relation of,” “for the use of,” “on behalf of,” and similar expressions to “ex rel.”10.2.1(b) • Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co., • Generally you may omit “The” as the first word of a party’s name. 10.2.1(d)

  19. General Rules for Citing Cases;Rule 10.2.1 (a)-(j) • Also omit geographical terms such as “State of” or “Commonwealth of” except when citing decisions of the court of that state in which case only use the geographical term but omit the “of”. 10.2.1(f) • For example: • State v. Davis • Omit “City of” and like expressions unless the expression begins a party name: • Mayor of Tuscaloosa v. Warner • BUTHale v. City of Tuscaloosa

  20. General Rules for Citing Cases; Rule 10.2.1 (a)-(j) • Omit “Inc.,” “Ltd.””L.L.C.,” “F.S.B.” and similar terms if the name also contains a word such as “Co.,” “Corp..” or “Ass’n,” clearly indicating that the party is a business firm. Rule 10.2.1(h) • Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co., • Rather than • Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co., Inc.

  21. Citation Ciphering: Case Names • What is the correct case name (the first part of the cite which identifies the parties, not the full cite) where Billy Bob Thorton and Angela Joly sue The Miami Herald. • Thorton v. Miami Herald • 10.2.1(a) and (d)

  22. Citation Ciphering: Case Names • What is the correct case name of an memo before an Alabama court, where Rebecca Keto on behalf of her daughter Nicole sues the State of Alabama. • Keto ex rel. Keto v. State, • 10.2.1(b) and (f)

  23. Rule 10: How to Cite Case Law • 1) Citing Cases Generally • 2) Abbreviations of Case Names • 3) Citing State Cases • 4) Citing Federal Cases • 5) Short Form Citations

  24. Abbreviating Case Names • Abbreviating varies somewhat depending upon whether you are using a textual sentence or a citation sentence. • If the case names appear in the text, you may only abbreviate certain widely recognized acronyms (like NAACP and CBS) and eight words listed in the blue book. See 10.2.1(c) and 6.1(b).

  25. Abbreviating Case Names • However, if the case name appears in a citation you must use the abbreviations listed in Table 6 (common abbreviations) and in Table 11 (abbreviations for geographical terms). (See Rule 10.2.2) • Never abbreviate the United States. United States v. Langley

  26. Citation Ciphering: Abbreviating • What is the correct case name in a textual sentence, where the Bates Association sues the Central Intelligence Agency? • Bates Ass’n v. CIA • 10.2.1 (c) and 6.1(b)

  27. Citation Ciphering: Abbreviating • What is the correct case name in a citation sentence, where the Grimes sues Liberty National Life Insurance Company? • Grimes v. Liberty Nat’l Life Ins. Co., • 10.2.2 (a) and T. 6

  28. Rule 10: How to Cite Case Law • 1) Citing Cases Generally • 2) Abbreviations of Case Names • 3) Citing State Cases • 4) Citing Federal Cases • 5) Short Form Citations

  29. Citing State Courts (Rule 10.4(b)/T.1) • In general , your cite should indicate the state and the court of decision in the parenthetical. • Smith v. State, 745 So. 2d 922 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999). • BUT, do not include the name of the court, if the decision is the highest court of the state. • Britton v. Doehring, 242 So. 2d 666 (Ala. 1970).

  30. Citing State Courts(Rule 10.4/T.1) • However, if the name of the state appears in the REPORTER TITLE then you should leave it out of the parenthetical. • Tomcsik v. Kramer, 499 Mass. 376 (1868).

  31. Citing State CourtsRule 10.4(b) • Check Table T.1 for each jurisdiction. • Alabama • For the Alabama Supreme Court, cite to So. or So. 2d. If therein otherwise cite . . . • Britton v. Doehring, 242 So. 2d 666 (Ala. 1970). • For the Court of Appeals cite to So. or So. 2d if therein otherwise site to Ala. App. • Smith v. State, 745 So. 2d 922 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999).

  32. Citation Ciphering: State Courts • What is correct cite in a citation sentence for a Alabama Supreme Court case decided in 1995 where Williams sues Hill reported at 658 So. 2d 381? • Williams v. Hill, 658 So. 2d 381 (Ala. 1995).

  33. Citation Ciphering: State Courts • How about specific material in an Alabama Civil Court of Appeals case on page 743, of a case reported at 671 So. 2d 741 and decided in 1995 where Scott sues Donkel? • Scott v. Donkel, 671 So. 2d 741, 743 (Ala. Civ. App. 1995).

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