Court opinions
How to cite a specialized federal court opinion
Cite a specialized or former federal court the way you cite any court: case name, reporter citation, and a parenthetical with the court’s abbreviation and the year.
The abbreviation is what tells the reader which court spoke, so copy it exactly; the book’s Table B lists one for every specialized and former federal court.
12 real examples
Each citation is printed as the book prints it, from an authority the book checked against its source.
Gasprom, Inc. v. Fateh (In re Gasprom, Inc.), 500 B.R. 598 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2013).
- Case name
- Gasprom, Inc. v. Fateh (In re Gasprom, Inc.)
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 500 B.R. 598
- Court and date
- (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2013)
The authority
- Gasprom, Inc. v. Fateh (In re Gasprom, Inc.) (B.A.P. 9th Cir., Oct. 28, 2013)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
Meidl v. United States, 100 Fed. Cl. 1 (2011).
- Case name
- Meidl v. United States
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 100 Fed. Cl. 1
- Year
- (2011)
The authority
- Meidl v. United States (Fed. Cl., Aug. 10, 2011)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
Pakfood Pub. Co. v. United States, 34 CIT 1122, 724 F. Supp. 2d 1327 (2010).
- Case name
- Pakfood Pub. Co. v. United States
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 34 CIT 1122
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 724 F. Supp. 2d 1327
- Year
- (2010)
The authority
- Pakfood Pub. Co. v. United States (Ct. Int’l Trade, Sept. 1, 2010)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
Keating v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2024-2.
- Case name
- Keating v. Commissioner
The authority
- Keating v. Commissioner (T.C., 2024)Source (irs.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Burton v. Shinseki, 25 Vet. App. 1 (2011).
- Case name
- Burton v. Shinseki
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 25 Vet. App. 1
- Year
- (2011)
The authority
- Burton v. Shinseki (Vet. App., Aug. 4, 2011)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
In re Bailey Fin. Litig., 100 F. Supp. 3d 1384 (J.P.M.L. 2015).
- Case name
- In re Bailey Fin. Litig.
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 100 F. Supp. 3d 1384
- Court and date
- (J.P.M.L. 2015)
The authority
- In re Bailey Fin. Litig. (J.P.M.L., Apr. 3, 2015)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
In re Motion for Release of Ct. Records, 526 F. Supp. 2d 484 (FISA Ct. 2007).
- Case name
- In re Motion for Release of Ct. Records
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 526 F. Supp. 2d 484
- Court and date
- (FISA Ct. 2007)
The authority
- In re Motion for Release of Ct. Records (FISA Ct., Dec. 11, 2007)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
In re Sealed Case, 310 F.3d 717 (FISA Ct. Rev. 2002).
- Case name
- In re Sealed Case
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 310 F.3d 717
- Court and date
- (FISA Ct. Rev. 2002)
The authority
- In re Sealed Case (FISA Ct. Rev., Nov. 18, 2002)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
United States v. Care, 18 C.M.A. 535, 40 C.M.R. 247 (1969).
- Case name
- United States v. Care
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 18 C.M.A. 535
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 40 C.M.R. 247
- Year
- (1969)
The authority
- United States v. Care (C.M.A., Aug. 29, 1969)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
United States v. Ghiglieri, 25 M.J. 687 (A.C.M.R. 1987).
- Case name
- United States v. Ghiglieri
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 25 M.J. 687
- Court and date
- (A.C.M.R. 1987)
The authority
- United States v. Ghiglieri (A.C.M.R., Nov. 30, 1987)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
United States v. Bonner, 70 M.J. 1 (C.A.A.F. 2011).
- Case name
- United States v. Bonner
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 70 M.J. 1
- Court and date
- (C.A.A.F. 2011)
The authority
- United States v. Bonner (C.A.A.F., Apr. 14, 2011)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
Corfield v. Coryell, 6 F. Cas. 546 (C.C.E.D. Pa. 1823).
- Case name
- Corfield v. Coryell
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 6 F. Cas. 546
- Court and date
- (C.C.E.D. Pa. 1823)
The authority
- Corfield v. Coryell (C.C.E.D. Pa., Apr. 1823)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
Where the book teaches this
The full rule, its exceptions and the reasons for it are in these sections.