# How do you cite court cases in oral argument?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cite-court-cases-in-oral-argument/576046>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 26, 2011, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cite-court-cases-in-oral-argument/576046 "2011-03-26T11:16:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ineedhelp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@ineedhelp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ineedhelp)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cite-court-cases-in-oral-argument/576046/1 "2011-03-26T11:16:45Z")

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Is “A versus B, United States Court of Appeals 8th circuit 1894” good, or do you have to say the proper title like

“Given Name Surname A vs Given Name Surname B, [all the numbers like 2d980] and whatever follows”

Would an arbiter know what case you’re referencing if you only use the first method?

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**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cite-court-cases-in-oral-argument/576046/2 "2011-03-26T17:03:56Z")

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I suppose it might depend on local rules, but around here you’re generally discussing cases you’ve already included in your brief, so a mention of the style and who the court was is usually sufficient: “as your Honors said in _Doe v. Roe_…” or “as the 5th Circuit ruled in _In Re Blackacre_…”. If the Court wants a complete citation they’ll let you know.

ETA: I was assuming that by oral argument you meant appellate court. In making an argument in trial court, the judge may or may not be familiar with the case you’re citing and may not have had sufficient time to digest your brief (if any), so a more complete citation and explanation may be necessary.

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**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cite-court-cases-in-oral-argument/576046/3 "2011-03-27T02:18:27Z")

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Presumably it also depends on how well-known the case is? I mean, if you’re citing _Miranda v. Arizona_ you probably don’t have to explain that it’s 384 U.S. 436.