Advanced citation

Subsequent history

If a decision was later affirmed, reversed, or otherwise acted on, add that history after the citation: aff'd, rev'd, vacated. Italicize these words in court documents.

Include "cert. denied" only if the decision is less than two years old or the denial is particularly relevant.

Affirmed (fictional)

Patel v. Granite Mut. Ins. Co., 210 F. Supp. 3d 45 (D. Mass. 2016), aff'd, 880 F.3d 12 (1st Cir. 2018)

Cases only on a database

For an unpublished decision on Westlaw or Lexis, give the docket number, the database cite, a pinpoint with a star page, and the court with the exact date.

Westlaw (fictional)

Doe v. Roe, No. 21-cv-1234, 2022 WL 123456, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 5, 2022)

Order of authorities in a string citation

Within one signal, list federal cases before state cases. Among federal cases: the Supreme Court, then courts of appeals, then district courts. Within the same court, list the newest first.

Mark the weight of a decision when it matters: (en banc), (per curiam), or (Kagan, J., dissenting).