How to cite court documents and the record

12 real examples

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

1. Am. Compl. ¶¶ 88–107, ECF No. 94.

   The authority

   • Am. Compl. (D.D.C., Jan. 15, 2021)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 4.4 Numbered paragraphs
   • 16.3 Filings in your own case

2. Tr. at 7649:11–7650:2 (Pichai).

   The authority

   • Trial Tr. / Tr. (D.D.C., Aug. 5, 2024)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 4.6 Lines, transcripts and the record
   • 16.6 Transcripts and depositions
   • 16.13 Errors to catch

3. Mem. Op. ¶ 6, ECF No. 1033.

   The authority

   • Mem. Op. (D.D.C., Aug. 5, 2024)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 5.6 Short forms, source by source
   • 5.10 Errors to catch
   • 16.12 Short forms: repeat, define, and when id. works

4. United States’ Mot. for Sanctions, ECF No. 512.

   The authority

   • United States’ Mot. for Sanctions (D.D.C., Feb. 23, 2023)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 7.6 Capitals: courts, laws, parties and your own papers
   • 16.3 Filings in your own case

5. Email, R.233-18, PageID #3299.

   The authority

   • Email (6th Cir., July 7, 2026)Source (opn.ca6.uscourts.gov)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 8.3 Full citations and short forms in a memo
   • 16.8 Declarations, exhibits, Bates numbers and discovery responses
   • 20.7 Email, texts and chats

6. Op. & Order on Sanctions at 1 n.1, Mata v. Avianca, Inc., No. 1:22-cv-01461 (S.D.N.Y. June 22, 2023), ECF No. 54.

   The authority

   • Op. & Order on Sanctions (S.D.N.Y., June 22, 2023)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 9.2 Tables of authorities

7. App. to Pet. for Cert. 48a.

   The authority

   • App. to Pet. for Cert. (U.S., Aug. 29, 2025)Source (supremecourt.gov)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 9.14 Errors to catch

8. Appellant’s Br. 23, 25; see S. Appx 41.

   The authority

   • Appellant’s Br.; S. Appx (Fed. Cir., June 30, 2026)Source (cafc.uscourts.gov)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 11.5 In chambers: bench memos, drafts and the judge’s way
   • 16.9 The record on appeal, court by court

9. Compl. ¶ 1, United States v. Google LLC, No. 1:20-cv-03010 (D.D.C. Oct. 20, 2020), ECF No. 1.

   The authority

   • Compl. (D.D.C., Oct. 20, 2020)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

   Where the book teaches this

   • 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
   • 16.13 Errors to catch

10. Beaird v. United States, No. 25-5343 (U.S. filed Aug. 11, 2025).

    The authority

    • Beaird v. United States (U.S., Aug. 11, 2025)Source (supremecourt.gov)

    Where the book teaches this

    • 14.7 Unreported opinions, slip opinions and pending cases

11. LoDuca Aff., ECF No. 29-1.

    The authority

    • LoDuca Aff. (S.D.N.Y., Apr. 25, 2023)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)

    Where the book teaches this

    • 16.2 What a record cite proves, and what it doesn’t

12. See ECF Nos. 451, 452.

    The authority

    • ECF Nos. 451, 452 (D.D.C., Jan. 11, 2023)Copy (courtlistener.com)

    Where the book teaches this

    • 16.3 Filings in your own case

Where the book teaches this

The full rule, its exceptions and the reasons for it are in these sections.

• 4.4 Numbered paragraphs
• 4.6 Lines, transcripts and the record
• 5.6 Short forms, source by source
• 5.10 Errors to catch
• 7.6 Capitals: courts, laws, parties and your own papers
• 8.3 Full citations and short forms in a memo
• 9.2 Tables of authorities
• 9.14 Errors to catch

Related examples

• How to cite court rules
• Pinpoint citations explained