# Those numbers after court cases-what book do they refer to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-numbers-after-court-cases-what-book-do-they-refer-to/99733 "2002-03-23T19:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-numbers-after-court-cases-what-book-do-they-refer-to/99733/1 "2002-03-23T19:15:00Z")
Usually, a court case is referred to by name and number (for example, Carson vs. Here’s Johnny Portable Toilets [698 F.2d 831]). I remember reading here once before what government book these numbers referred to (page number and such), but I have forgotten. What is the book/file? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Maximino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mighty\_Maximino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Maximino)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-numbers-after-court-cases-what-book-do-they-refer-to/99733/2 "2002-03-23T19:27:56Z")
The citation depends on where the case is from; it’s a cite to various reporters published to contain the numerous decisions from courts. The first number is the volume number, the middle part is the reporter and edition, and the last part is the page number. In your example, you could find the case in Volume 698 of the Federal Reporter, Second Edition, page 831. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-numbers-after-court-cases-what-book-do-they-refer-to/99733/3 "2002-03-23T19:28:41Z")
I think I found it. The _Federal Reporter_ ---
**Author:** ![ImInvisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8c91f0/32.png) [@ImInvisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ImInvisible)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-numbers-after-court-cases-what-book-do-they-refer-to/99733/4 "2002-03-23T19:30:40Z")
The example you gave, 698 F.2d 831, refers to Volume 698 of the Federal Reporter, 2d Edition, at page 831. Published U.S. federal cases are reprinted in the following “official” reporters (there are other, “unofficial” reporters that may also print them): U.S. Supreme Court – The U.S. Reporter. Example: 47 U.S. 234 (e.g., volume 47, page 234). U.S. Courts of Appeal – The Federal Reporter (Volumes 1 and 2): 232 F. 100 (Volume 232, page 100, of the 1st edition) 314 F.2d 215 (Volume 314, page 215 of the 2d edition) U.S. District Courts - the Federal Supplement: 416 F.Supp. 237 (Volume 416 F.Supp. 237) Not all cases are published, but those that are get published roughly as they are decided, so the cases in Volume 100 are a bit earlier than those in 101, etc. Each state also has its own “official reporters” for the state courts, and there are other “unofficial reporters” and “regional reporters” that publish too. All of this is explained in nauseating detail in a book known to every lawyer and available in every legal bookstore called “The Bluebook.” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-numbers-after-court-cases-what-book-do-they-refer-to/99733/5 "2002-03-23T21:52:56Z")
I. There are three series of reports for the U. S. Supreme Court: 1. _United States Supreme Court Reports_ (in citation, volume number, US page number). Official. 2. _United States Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers’ Edition_ (XX L.Ed. XX); second series (XX L.Ed. 2d XX). Unofficial. Uses “star paging” to match page to official reports. 3. _United States Supreme Court Reporter_ (XX S. Ct. XXXX)–published by West Publishing, as all with “Reporter” are, federal and State. Unofficial, but often easier to read and use. 🙂 Begun in late 19th Century. Unofficial. Uses “star paging.” Case law in Supreme Court decisions applies everywhere in United States. II. _Federal Reporter_ (3 series) and _Federal Supplement_ (2 series). Published by West. Unofficial. Case law applies only in Circuit or District as named in decision. III. In each state the setup is different. In California the State Supreme Court decisions appear in Cal (_California State Supreme Court Reports_), Cal 2d, Cal 3d, Cal4th, all official; and _California Reporter_ and _Pacific Reporter_ (2 series each). Both of the latter are published by West and are unofficial; Pacific Reporter includes State Supreme Court rulings from most Western states. California _Appellate_ Court decisions appear in Cal.App. (_California Appellate Court Reports_), 2d, 3d, 4th Series, official, as well as the unofficial West’s _California Reporter._