Overview
This lecture explains how to properly cite Supreme Court cases using APA 7 style, covering both reference list entries and in-text citations.
Reference List Entries for Supreme Court Cases
- Reference entry must include: Name v. Name, volume number, US, page number, year, and an optional URL.
- The case name is not italicized in the reference list.
- If the case lacks a page number, use three underscores (___) instead.
- Include all parallel citations if they exist; legal citations usually already provide these.
- Reference list example: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483__
In-Text Citations
- There are two types: narrative and parenthetical.
- Narrative citation: Incorporate case name in text (italicized), followed by the year in parentheses.
- Parenthetical citation: Place case name and year, both italicized, in parentheses; period follows the closing parenthesis if at end of sentence.
- Example narrative: Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- Example parenthetical: (Brown v. Board of Education, 1954)
Legal Citation Guidelines & Resources
- APA legal citations generally follow standard legal citation styles.
- Court case names are italicized in in-text citations but not in reference list entries.
- For further help, see pages 357-361 in the APA 7th edition manual.
- Additional guidance: "The Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation" and Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School (www.law.cornell.edu).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Parallel Citation — same case published in multiple sources.
- Narrative Citation — citation where the case name is integrated into the text.
- Parenthetical Citation — citation placed in parentheses, usually at the end of a sentence.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of legal cases in the APA 7th edition manual, pages 357–361.
- Access further citation resources at the library or Cornell's Legal Information Institute.
- Ask a Columbus State reference librarian for additional citation help if needed.