Legal Research & Writing LAW-215

1. Legal Research & WritingLAW-215 Legal Citation Form

2. Legal Citation Form • In this unit, we will learn: • The history and purpose of the Bluebook and ALWD • To identify proper citation form. • How to write proper citation form, using examples of citations for primary authorities and secondary authorities. • To recognize the proper use of more intricate citation tasks, such as punctuation, quotations, and use of signals such as id., supra, and infra.

3. What Is Citation? • “Code” to help readers find the sources you refer to in your paper. • Author, title, volume, source abbreviation, page numbers, dates. • Names, abbreviations, numbers. • Each source you cite will have a slightly different format.

4. 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.

5. What are Citation Manuals? • Citation Manuals provide the rules for citing legal authorities. • Two primary citation manuals in the U.S.: • The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation • ALWD Citation Manual

6. The Bluebook

7. Background – TheBluebook • For 75 years, the standard has been TheBluebook. • Prepared by students at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Pennsylvania. • Revised every 5 years.

8. California Colorado Delaware Florida Indiana Kansas Michigan North Carolina South Carolina Texas Wisconsin States that Require Bluebook Format in Court Documents

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

10. Getting Familiar with The Bluebook • Rules 1 to 9 set 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.

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

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

13. Rule 6.1: Line Spacing • Individual numbers, including both numerals and ordinals, are treated as single capitals: Examples: P.2d S.E.2d. BUT: So.^2d F.^Supp.^2d

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. Case Citations Generally: Rule 10.2 • Case names are cited . . . • In the text of a document Or • In a citation clause or sentence.

18. 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.

19. 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).

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

21. When and when not to use 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.

22. 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)Example: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)

23. 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) • Example: State v. Davis • Omit “City of” and like expressions unless the expression begins a party name: • Example:Mayor of Tuscaloosa v. Warner BUT : Hale v. City of Tuscaloosa

24. 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) Example: Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co., RATHER THAN: Wright ex rel. Wright v. Calvin Reid Const. Co., Inc.

25. 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

26. 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).

27. 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 in a case name. Example: United States v. Langley

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. Example: 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. Example: 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. Example: Tomcsik v. Kramer, 499 Mass. 376 (1868).

31. Citing State Courts: Rule 10.4(b) • Check Table T.1 for each jurisdiction. Example: 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. ALWD Citation

33. ALWD Citation Manual • Prepared by the Association of Legal Writing Directors. • Pronounced “ALL-wid”. • Designed as a “restatement” of citation and to replace TheBluebook.

34. ALWD Citation Manual • Adopted by professors at about 90 law schools. • If you can use The Bluebook, you can use the ALWD Manual. • Many citation forms look the same -- so most attorneys and judges will not know which you used. • Also: Local court citation rules.

35. Major Change from The Bluebook • Only one citation system for all types of documents (no “Practitioners’ Notes”).

36. Features • Fast formats • Sidebars • Diagramed examples • More examples • Detailed index • Local court rules • Two-color design • Web site for updates

40. Organization

41. Part Seven: Appendices

42. Appendices on the Web • Many have expanded coverage. • www.alwd.org • Web also has updates, clarifications, and errata.

43. How to Find Information • Start with the index. • Look up the most specific term possible. • If not there, think of a broader term or synonym. • Detailed table of contents.

44. Example of Citation • To establish that a contract exists, the plaintiff must establish three elements: offer, acceptance, and consideration. Jones v. Smith, 538 S.2d 64, 67 (Fla. 1987). If these essential elements are not proven, then the plaintiff’s case will fail. Id. at 69. In some cases, the parties’ intent can be used to establish each element. Gardner v. Cooper, 876 S.2d 999, 1002-1004 (Fla. 2d Dist. App. 1994).

45. Rule 1: Typeface • Ordinary or italics (underlining). • If you underline, underline spaces. • Appendix 6 uses underlining. • Each rule will tell you which parts of a citation should be in ordinary type and which should be in italics. • Italicize punctuation within italicized material, but not following it.

46. Rule 2: Abbreviations • Use the Appendices (have flexibility about whether to abbreviate). • Spacing rules.

47. Rule 3: Capitalization • Conform titles to this rule. • Use spelling in original. • Capitalize first letter of: • First word in title • First word in subtitle • First word after colon or dash • All other words except articles, prepositions, “to” as an infinitive, and coordinating conjunctions

48. Generally spell out zero through ninety-nine. Ordinals: 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, etc. Rule 4: Numbers

49. Rule 5: Page Numbers • Use a pinpoint whenever possible. • Page spans - either: • Retain all digits: 100-111 • Drop repetitive digits, but retain two on right-hand side: 100-11

50. Rule 8: Supplements • Material only in main volume. (2002) • Material only in supplement. (Supp. 2002) • Material in both. (2002 & Supp. 2003)