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The Citation Code
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Court opinions

How to cite a Third Circuit opinion

Cite a Third Circuit opinion as case name, volume, reporter and first page, a pinpoint, and “(3d 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 and F.3d.

4 real examples

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

  1. Consol. Rail Corp. v. United States, 812 F.2d 1444 (3d Cir. 1987).

    Case name
    Consol. Rail Corp. v. United States
    Volume, reporter and first page
    812 F.2d 1444
    Court and date
    (3d Cir. 1987)

    The authority

    • Consol. Rail Corp. v. United States (3d Cir., Feb. 23, 1987)

    Where the book teaches this

  2. In re ABC Learning Ctrs. Ltd., 728 F.3d 301 (3d Cir. 2013).

    Case name
    In re ABC Learning Ctrs. Ltd.
    Volume, reporter and first page
    728 F.3d 301
    Court and date
    (3d Cir. 2013)

    The authority

    Where the book teaches this

  3. Fang v. Dir. U.S. Immigr. & Customs Enf’t, 935 F.3d 172 (3d Cir. 2019).

    Case name
    Fang v. Dir. U.S. Immigr. & Customs Enf’t
    Volume, reporter and first page
    935 F.3d 172
    Court and date
    (3d Cir. 2019)

    The authority

    Where the book teaches this