How citations work
Parallel citations explained
A parallel citation gives the same opinion in more than one place, usually the court’s own number or official reports followed by a regional reporter.
Give one when the receiving court’s rules ask for it; the book’s Table C lists the states that do. Put a pinpoint after each source whose page or paragraph you rely on.
12 real examples
Each citation is printed as the book prints it, from an authority the book checked against its source.
State v. Zimmerman, 2014 MT 173, ¶ 11, 375 Mont. 374, 328 P.3d 1132.
- Case name
- State v. Zimmerman
- Year, court and opinion number
- 2014 MT 173
- Pinpoint
- ¶ 11
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 375 Mont. 374
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 328 P.3d 1132
The authority
- State v. Zimmerman (Mont., July 3, 2014)Source (courts.mt.gov)
Where the book teaches this
In re Jacob, 86 N.Y.2d 651, 660 N.E.2d 397, 636 N.Y.S.2d 716 (1995).
- Case name
- In re Jacob
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 86 N.Y.2d 651
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 660 N.E.2d 397
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 636 N.Y.S.2d 716
- Year
- (1995)
The authority
- In re Jacob (N.Y., Nov. 2, 1995)Copy (law.cornell.edu)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
State ex rel. Hunter v. Johnson & Johnson, 2021 OK 54, ¶ 8, 499 P.3d 719.
- Case name
- State ex rel. Hunter v. Johnson & Johnson
- Year, court and opinion number
- 2021 OK 54
- Pinpoint
- ¶ 8
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 499 P.3d 719
The authority
- State ex rel. Hunter v. Johnson & Johnson (Okla., Nov. 9, 2021)Source (oscn.net)
Where the book teaches this
State v. Nolan, 322 Neb. 525, ___ N.W.3d ___ (2026).
- Case name
- State v. Nolan
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 322 Neb. 525
- Year
- (2026)
The authority
- State v. Nolan (Neb., Oct. 9, 2026)Source (nebraska.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of Cal., 17 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334, 131 Cal. Rptr. 14 (1976).
- Case name
- Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of Cal.
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 17 Cal. 3d 425
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 551 P.2d 334
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 131 Cal. Rptr. 14
- Year
- (1976)
The authority
- Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of Cal. (Cal., July 1, 1976)Copy (courtlistener.com)
Where the book teaches this
Griffith v. Rivera, 140 Nev., Adv. Op. 60, 555 P.3d 1171 (2024).
- Case name
- Griffith v. Rivera
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 140 Nev., Adv. Op. 60
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 555 P.3d 1171
- Year
- (2024)
The authority
- Griffith v. Rivera (Nev., Sept. 19, 2024)Copy (storage.courtlistener.com)
Where the book teaches this
People v Tebo, 133 Mich App 307; 349 NW2d 172 (1984).
- Case name
- People v Tebo
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 133 Mich App 307
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 349 NW2d 172
- Year
- (1984)
The authority
- People v Tebo (Mich. Ct. App., Feb. 15, 1984)Source (courts.michigan.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Broadnax v. New Haven, 284 Conn. 237, 932 A.2d 1063 (2007).
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 284 Conn. 237
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 932 A.2d 1063
- Year
- (2007)
The authority
- Broadnax v. City of New Haven (Conn., Oct. 23, 2007)Source (jud.ct.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Kirman v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2011-128, 101 T.C.M. (CCH) 1625 (2011).
- Case name
- Kirman v. Comm’r
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 101 T.C.M. (CCH) 1625
- Year
- (2011)
The authority
- Kirman v. Comm’r (T.C., June 8, 2011)Source (public-api.dawson.ustaxcourt.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Fort Defiance Hous. Corp. v. Lowe, 8 Nav. R. 463, 5 Am. Tribal Law 394 (Nav. Sup. Ct. 2004).
- Case name
- Fort Defiance Hous. Corp. v. Lowe
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 8 Nav. R. 463
- Volume, reporter and first page
- 5 Am. Tribal Law 394
- Court and date
- (Nav. Sup. Ct. 2004)
The authority
- Fort Defiance Hous. Corp. v. Lowe (Nav. Sup. Ct., Apr. 12, 2004)Copy (static.case.law)Find it on CourtListener
Where the book teaches this
Facebook Ireland and Schrems, C-311/18, ECLI:EU:C:2020:559, ¶ 201 (July 16, 2020).
- Case name
- Facebook Ireland and Schrems
- Year
- (July 16, 2020)
The authority
- Facebook Ireland and Schrems (Court of Justice of the European Union (Court of Justice, Grand Chamber), July 16, 2020)Source (eur-lex.europa.eu)
Where the book teaches this
Google and Alphabet v. Commission (Google Android), T-604/18, ECLI:EU:T:2022:541 (Sept. 14, 2022).
- Case name
- Google and Alphabet v. Commission (Google Android)
- Year
- (Sept. 14, 2022)
The authority
- Google and Alphabet v. Commission (Google Android) (Court of Justice of the European Union (General Court), Sept. 14, 2022)Source (eur-lex.europa.eu)
Where the book teaches this
Where the book teaches this
The full rule, its exceptions and the reasons for it are in these sections.
- 4.4 Numbered paragraphs
- 7.2 Spacing and periods: the single-capital rule
- 9.14 Errors to catch
- 14.2 Citation forms, court by court
- 14.5 Reporters, pages and parallel citations
- 14.7 Unreported opinions, slip opinions and pending cases
- 14.11 When the receiving court has its own rules
- 22.6 Looseleaf, topical and reporting services