Citations

Question 1

What is the official citation guide for California state courts?

Answer 1

The California Style Manual.

Question 2

What citation guide is used for federal legal matters?

Answer 2

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

Question 3

According to California Rules of Court, Rule 1.200, what are the acceptable citation styles?

Answer 3

Either the California Style Manual or The Bluebook, but consistency must be maintained throughout the document.

Question 4

What are the basic elements of a case citation in California?

Answer 4

Name of the case (italicized or underlined),

Year of decision (in parentheses),

Volume number, reporter name, and first page of official report,

Unofficial report in brackets.

Question 5

Provide an example of a properly formatted California case citation.

Answer 5

People v. Cobb (1977) 15 Cal.App.3d 1 [93 Cal.Rptr. 152]

Question 6

Why shouldn’t you cite California appellate decisions as C.3d or C.A.3d?

Answer 6

Because other states also start with “C”, which could cause confusion.

Question 7

How are California codes cited outside parentheses?

Answer 7

Full code name + “section” spelled out (no abbreviation).

Example: Code of Civil Procedure section 410

Question 8

How are California code sections cited within parentheses?

Answer 8

Use code abbreviation, comma, § symbol, and section number.

(Code Civ. Proc., § 410)

Question 9

What if the § symbol isn’t available on your keyboard?

Answer 9

Use “sec.” instead.

(Code Civ. Proc., sec. 410)

Question 10

How do you cite multiple code sections?

Answer 10

Use a double section symbol: §§

(Pen. Code, §§ 118, 126)

Question 11

How do you cite a code section and its following sections?

Answer 11

Use “et seq.”

(Bus. & Prof Code, § 15700 et seq.)

Question 12

How is a subdivision cited in full text and in parentheses?

Answer 12

Full text: Civil Code section 227, subdivision (a)

Parentheses: (Civ. Code, § 227, subd. (a))

Question 13

Why shouldn’t you cite a section as 227(a)?

Answer 13

It may be mistaken for section 227a instead of subdivision (a) of section 227.

Question 14

Do you use “subdivision” or “subd.” when citing California Rules of Court or local rules?

Answer 14

No.

Question 15

When should “Section” or “Paragraph” be spelled out?

Answer 15

When they begin a sentence (main or footnote text).

Question 16

What does The Bluebook say about using symbols like § or ¶?

Answer 16

Use them in citations, with a space between the symbol and number.

Question 17

What does the California Style Manual say about using § or ¶?

Answer 17

Use them only within parentheses; insert a comma between code abbreviation and the symbol.

Question 18

How do you cite indented paragraphs not introduced by ¶ symbols?

Answer 18

Use “para.” instead of the ¶ symbol.

Question 19

Should you use “at” before section (§) or paragraph (¶) symbols?

Answer 19

No

Question 20

When is “Id.” used?

Answer 20

When citing the same authority as the immediately preceding citation in the same paragraph.

Question 21

When should “Id.” not be used?

Answer 21

When citing a shorter word from an authority but referring to the full source,

When the previous footnote includes more than one source.

Question 22

When is “Supra” used?

Answer 22

For previously cited legislative hearings, books, regulations, treaties, etc.

Question 23

Can you use “Supra” in place of volume and page numbers?

Answer 23

No

Question 24

Example use of “Supra”?

Answer 24

Smith v. Jones, supra, 8 Cal.App.3d 265.

Question 25

When do you use “Ibid.”?

Answer 25

When citing the same page as the immediately preceding citation in the same paragraph.

Question 26

Is “Ibid.” used under Bluebook citation rules?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

The case name in a citation may be underlined or italicized.

Answer 27

True

Question 28

The California Style Manual states that symbols are used only when abbreviating or citing within a parenthetical.

Answer 28

True