Court opinions

How to cite a First Circuit opinion

Cite a First Circuit opinion as case name, volume, reporter and first page, a pinpoint, and “(1st Cir. [year])”: the circuit and the year of decision.

The Federal Reporter prints the opinions of every circuit, so the parenthetical has to name the court.

The examples below use F.2d, F.3d and F.4th.

9 real examples

Each citation is printed as the book prints it, from an authority the book checked against its source.

See also McCoy v. Mass. Inst. of Tech., 950 F.2d 13, 22 (1st Cir. 1991).
Case name
McCoy v. Mass. Inst. of Tech.
Volume, reporter and first page
950 F.2d 13
Pinpoint
22
Court and date
(1st Cir. 1991)
The authority
- McCoy v. Mass. Inst. of Tech. (1st Cir., Nov. 19, 1991)
Where the book teaches this
- 2.4 Signals: what each one tells your reader
Cf. United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st Cir. 1990).
Case name
United States v. Zannino
Volume, reporter and first page
895 F.2d 1
Pinpoint
17
Court and date
(1st Cir. 1990)
The authority
- United States v. Zannino (1st Cir., Jan. 10, 1990)
Where the book teaches this
- 2.4 Signals: what each one tells your reader
Commissioner v. Monarch Life Ins. Co., 114 F.2d 314 (1st Cir. 1940).
Case name
Commissioner v. Monarch Life Ins. Co.
Volume, reporter and first page
114 F.2d 314
Court and date
(1st Cir. 1940)
The authority
- Commissioner v. Monarch Life Ins. Co. (1st Cir., Aug. 15, 1940)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st Cir. 1990).
Case name
United States v. Zannino
Volume, reporter and first page
895 F.2d 1
Pinpoint
17
Court and date
(1st Cir. 1990)
The authority
- United States v. Zannino (1st Cir., Jan. 10, 1990)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
McCoy v. Mass. Inst. of Tech., 950 F.2d 13, 22 (1st Cir. 1991).
Case name
McCoy v. Mass. Inst. of Tech.
Volume, reporter and first page
950 F.2d 13
Pinpoint
22
Court and date
(1st Cir. 1991)
The authority
- McCoy v. Mass. Inst. of Tech. (1st Cir., Nov. 19, 1991)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
In re Rudler, 576 F.3d 37 (1st Cir. 2009).
Case name
In re Rudler
Volume, reporter and first page
576 F.3d 37
Court and date
(1st Cir. 2009)
The authority
- In re Rudler (1st Cir., Aug. 5, 2009)Source (media.ca1.uscourts.gov)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
Flannery v. SEC, 810 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2015).
Case name
Flannery v. SEC
Volume, reporter and first page
810 F.3d 1
Court and date
(1st Cir. 2015)
The authority
- Flannery v. SEC (1st Cir., Dec. 8, 2015)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
SEC v. Navellier & Assocs., Inc., 108 F.4th 19 (1st Cir. 2024).
Case name
SEC v. Navellier & Assocs., Inc.
Volume, reporter and first page
108 F.4th 19
Court and date
(1st Cir. 2024)
The authority
- SEC v. Navellier & Assocs., Inc. (1st Cir., July 16, 2024)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
Calderón-Amézquita v. Rivera-Cruz, No. 23-1091 (1st Cir. Oct. 30, 2025).
Case name
Calderón-Amézquita v. Rivera-Cruz
Docket number
No. 23-1091
Court and date
(1st Cir. Oct. 30, 2025)
The authority
- Calderón-Amézquita v. Rivera-Cruz (1st Cir., Oct. 30, 2025)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
- 14.7 Unreported opinions, slip opinions and pending cases