Legal Definitions - Bluebook

Definition: Bluebook is a style guide used for legal citation in the United States. It is used to cite legal documents in legal memoranda, court documents, and law journals. The Bluebook is widely used by law schools and federal courts.

The Bluebook was first published in 1926 and is regularly updated. It is named after the color of its cover. The guide is compiled by the Harvard Law Review, the Columbia Law Review, the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, and the Yale Law Journal.

While the Bluebook is the most widely used legal citation system in the United States, there are other citation systems used by courts, associations, and universities.

When writing a legal document, it is important to use proper citation. The Bluebook provides guidelines for citing cases, statutes, and other legal sources. For example:

• Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
• 42 U.S.C. § 1983

The first example cites a Supreme Court case using the proper format outlined in the Bluebook. The second example cites a federal statute.

By following the guidelines in the Bluebook, legal professionals can ensure that their citations are accurate and consistent.