Introduction to Bluebook Citation

The Bluebook is a widely used citation style in legal writing and academia. It provides a systematic way to reference various types of legal documents, cases, statutes, and scholarly articles. Proper citation is essential for maintaining academic integrity and providing a clear pathway for readers to verify sources. Below are three diverse examples of Bluebook reference page formats that can be useful in research papers.

Example 1: Case Citation

This example illustrates how to cite a court case, which is essential in legal research and writing. Properly citing cases helps establish precedents and supports legal arguments.

In this case, you might be discussing the implications of landmark rulings in your research paper. Here’s how to format it:

Example:
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).

In this citation:

• Brown v. Board of Education is the name of the case.
• 347 U.S. 483 indicates the volume and page number in the United States Reports where the case is published.
• (1954) is the year of the decision.

_Note: For multiple parties in a case, use “et al.” after the first party’s name if there are more than three parties._

Example 2: Statute Citation

Statutes are laws enacted by legislative bodies, and citing them correctly is crucial in legal writing. This example demonstrates how to reference a federal statute in your research paper.

If your paper discusses the implications of a particular law, you would format it as follows:

Example:
Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e (2018).

In this citation:

• Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the name of the statute.
• 42 U.S.C. § 2000e refers to the title and section of the United States Code where the statute can be found.
• (2018) indicates the year of the code edition being referenced.

_Note: When citing state statutes, the format may vary slightly, so always check the specific Bluebook rules for state references._

Example 3: Journal Article Citation

Academic articles are often referenced in research papers, and using the correct format ensures that your sources are credible and verifiable. This example shows how to cite a law review article.

If your paper includes a discussion about legal theory, you might reference the following:

Example:
John Doe, The Future of Legal Education, 50 Harv. L. Rev. 123 (2021).

In this citation:

• John Doe is the author of the article.
• The Future of Legal Education is the title of the article.
• 50 Harv. L. Rev. 123 indicates the volume and page number of the Harvard Law Review where the article appears.
• (2021) is the year of publication.

_Note: Ensure that the titles are italicized and that you maintain the correct punctuation as per Bluebook guidelines._