Speed Bluebooking Presented by University of Baltimore Law Review & Office of Academic Support

The Bluebook Four Major Parts: 1.Bluepages 2.Rules of Citation & Style 3.Tables 4.Index

Basic Tips Remember the function of a citation Look up every rule, every time When in doubt, start with the Index Read the entire rule at least once Tables contain rules DON’T COPY A DATABASE CITATION!

The Bluepages Use the Bluepages for typeface & style issues particular to memos – B1 for typeface – B2 for citation placement

The Rules (White Pages) Use the BB Rules for formatting citations (punctuation, how to order citations, etc.) – Rule 1 – Signals – Rule 4 – Short Citation Form – Rule 10 – Cases – Rule 12 – Statutes – Rule 18 – Internet Sources

Common Errors: Rule 10 – Cases Improper Abbreviations – Use Table 6 & Table 10 – Different in citation vs text B4.1.1/Rule 10.2 – Similar abbreviations for different words Employee and Employment (Emp. and Emp’t) Associate and Association (Assoc. and Ass’n) Center and Central (Ctr. and Cent.)

Common Errors: Rule 10 – Cases Maryland cases must contain parallel cites – Rule (a) Boy v. Girl, 379 Md. 58, 59, 458 A.3d 38, 41 (2009). Reporter spacing – Rule 6.1(a): N.W.2d (no spaces) F. Supp. 2d (spaces) Use the short form! – Rule 10.9

Common Errors: Rule 10 – Cases Parenthetical information – Weight of Authority Rule – Boy v. Girl, 123 U.S. 456 (2012) (Stevens, J., dissenting) – Quoting vs not quoting Rule 1.5(a) – (“The arsonist had oddly shaped feet.”). – (stating that the arsonist had “oddly shaped feet”). – Citation within a citation Rule  Rule 1.6(c); Rule 2.2(b)(iii) – Parenthetical containing a case citation

Simplifying Signals: Rule 1.2 Supportive Signals – [no signal] – E.g., – Accord – See – See also – Cf. Comparative Signals – Compare … with … Contradictory Signals – Contra – But see – But cf. Background Signals – See generally

Simplifying Signals: Rule 1.2 – [No signal] = assertion comes directly from this cited source Contradictory signal = Contra – E.g., = assertion comes directly from multiple sources, one of which is this cited source – Accord = text quotes/refers to another source, but assertion is also stated in/supported by this cited source – See = assertion is not directly from this source, but is clearly supported by this cited source Contradictory signal = But see – See also = assertion comes directly from previous source, but it is also supported by this cited source – See generally = general background material for assertion can be found in cited source – Cf. = a proposition different than but analogous to assertion is supported by this cited source Contradictory signal = But cf.

Simplifying Signals: Rule 1.2 String Cites – Multiple sources linked to the same signal or same TYPE of signal (supportive, comparative, contradictory, or background) are separated by a semi-colon See UB Law Review v. UMD Law Review, 459 U.S. 268, 271 (2010); Lande v. Breyer, 458 U.S. 11, 12 (2009). – Be sure to place sources in correct order Based on signal  Rule 1.3 and B3.5 Based on authority  Rule 1.4

Common Errors: Rule 4 – Short Form Id.  Rule 4.1 – Italicize the “.” in Id. – Only add page numbers after “id.” if the pincite is different Id. or Id. at 3. – Id. § 5. Not: Id. at § 5. – Do not use id. if you cited more than one authority in previous cite.

Common Errors: Rule 4 – Short Form Short Citation Form for Cases – Rule 10.9 – B4.2 tells you when you can use the short form – Pick one party’s name and stick with it; make sure the reader can figure out which case you are referring to. Rule 10.9(b)(ii) for parallel citations with “Id.” – Id. at 356, 233 A.2d at 563. See B4.2 for parallel citations with short forms – Jones, 435 Md. at 25, 245 A.3d at 38.

Common Errors: Rule 18 – Internet Sources Direct citations vs. parallel citations – Citing CNN.com vs. The Baltimore Sun Use “available at” for the latter, never for the former. See Rules , & 16.6(f) If the Web site does not list a publication date, use a “last visited” parenthetical when no date provided; update this every time you view the webpage – Rule (c).

Other Helpful Rules Citing a Restatement?  Rule Uniform Code?  Rule Capitalizing the word “court”  B7.3.1 – Only capitalized when referring to SCOTUS or the court that will receive the document. Case names in memos  B1 – Underscore or italicize case names in the text of your memo Multiple sections  Rule 3.3(b) – Use §§ when referring to multiple sections Citing a footnote?  Rule 3.2(b)

Other Helpful Rules Quotations  Rule 5 – Pay attention to long quotes and alterations – Do not indicate emphasis in original Numbers and Symbols  Rule 6.2 – The first word of any sentence must be spelled out Foreign phrases  Rule 7 – Italicizing foreign phrases such as certiorari, res judicata, etc. – Don’t italicize the common phrases Unreported Opinions  B4.1.4; Rules & Court documents/Case record  B7 No bluebook rule for source? Use analogous source

Final Tips & Things to Remember When in doubt, use the Index Always check the tables for abbreviations Check the inside back cover for examples of commonly used citation forms used in court documents / legal memos (Bluepages) Check the inside front cover for examples of commonly used citation forms used in journals (White Pages)