# How to cite Supreme Court rulings in a paper?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cite-supreme-court-rulings-in-a-paper/483267>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 27, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cite-supreme-court-rulings-in-a-paper/483267 "2009-01-27T19:27:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cite-supreme-court-rulings-in-a-paper/483267/21 "2009-01-28T19:02:13Z")

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> [@AK84](#):
>
> Interesting the style of citations, in England and Wales its X v Y [2009] Reporter Name Page and Court.

In Bluebook style, the court goes in the parentheses before the year. However, the court is not indicated when the reporter being cited reports cases from only one court (as in the case of the United States Reports, or “U.S.”).

> [@](#):
>
> In Pakistan, the citation always preceeds the case name. Any idea where the different styles come from?

I’m sure it’s just historical accident.

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