Identifying Parts
Find the name:
Commonwealth v. Lydon, 477 Mass. 1013 (2017).
Commonwealth v. Lydon, 477 Mass. 1013
True or False: Every case name is italicized.
False; they are underlined
U.S.
United States Reports
F. App'x
Federal Appendix
Date: May 27, 2014
Court Reporter: U.S. Supreme Court 572
Martinez v. Illinois
Martinez v. Illinois, S. Ct. 572, (2014).
When was this case decided?
McCarthy v. Fuller, 714 F.3d 971, 2013 U.S. App., 7200 (2013).
2013
True or False: The reporter is abbreviated
True
S. Ct.
Supreme Court Reporter
Fed. Cl.
Federal Claims Reporter
Decided; June 21, 2024
Reporter: Federal Reporter 125
Case: John Doe v. John Smith
Doe v. Smith, F. 125, (2024).
Who is the reporter?
McCarthy v. Fuller, 714 F.3d 971, 2013 U.S. App., 7200 (2013).
U.S. Appeals
When to use a comma
To divide various aspects of the citation
B. R.
Bankruptcy Reporter
T.R.
Tax Reporter
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High School, 101 F.4th 316
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
September 20, 2023, Argued; May 8, 2024
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High Sch., 101 F.4th, 316 (2024).
What does Lexis mean?
Ga Nun v. Palmer, 202 N.Y. 483, 96 N.E. 99, 1911 N.Y. LEXIS 1039 (1911).
You got it from Nexis Uni.
When to use a period
When you are using an abbreviation OR you are ending the citation
M.J.
Military Reporter (not Michael Jackson)
F. Supp.
Federal Supplement
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF JACKSON, LENAWEE, AND HILLSDALE COUNTIES; EMILY MCJONES, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. GRETCHEN WHITMER
2025 United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit . LEXIS 32950
October 23, 2025, Argued; December 17, 2025, Decided; December 17, 2025, Filed
Catholic Charities of Jackson v. Whitmer, 162 F.4th 686, 2025 U.S. App. LEXIS 32950, (2025).
Which court heard this case?
Commonwealth v. Lydon, 90 Mass. App. Ct. 1118, (2016).
Massachusetts Appeals Court
True or false: you put the parties full name in your citation
False: you use last name or abbreviation of the company
F.R.D.
Federal Rules Decisions
Vet. App.
Veterans Appeals Reporter
PETER HESSER, Petitioner-Appellant, versus UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
July 13, 2022
40th United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1221
Hesser v. United States, 40 F., 1221 (2022).