The Bluebook is a style manual that governs how American legal documents are cited in legal memoranda, court documents, and law journals
. It is the most widely used legal citation system in the United States and has been the go-to guide for generations of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals
. The Bluebook is published by the editors of the law journals at Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University
. As of this writing, The Bluebook is in the first printing of the 20th Edition
. The Bluebook is organized into sections, including the "Bluepages," which provide information on basic legal citation, and the "Whitepages," which contain the full rules on citation and style
. There are also tables that provide information on the proper authorities to cite
. The Bluebook is known for its complexity, and some legal scholars have called for its replacement with a simpler system
. However, it remains the most widely used and authoritative guide for legal citation in the United States. To create a Bluebook citation, follow these six steps
:
- Determine the type of source you want to cite.
- Go to the Bluebook rule for that source type.
- Follow the specific citation rules for that source type.
The Bluebook is available in print and online, with the 21st edition being the most recent one
. It is essential for law students, lawyers, and legal professionals to understand and apply the Bluebook's citation rules to ensure accurate and consistent citations in legal documents.
