Legal Definitions - pinpoint citation

A pinpoint citation is a reference to a specific page or section of a legal precedent or authority, such as a case, statute, or treatise, that either supports or contradicts a given position. It is used to provide more precise information about the source being cited.

• In a legal brief, a lawyer might use a pinpoint citation to refer to a specific page in a case that supports their argument.
• When citing a case, a pinpoint citation might look like this: "Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 456, 459 (5th Cir. 1999) (citing Johnson v. Smith, 456 U.S. 789, 793 n.4 (1982))." The "459" is the pinpoint citation, indicating the specific page where the cited information can be found.

These examples illustrate how pinpoint citations are used to provide more specific information about the source being cited. They help readers locate the exact information being referenced, making it easier to verify the accuracy of the citation and understand the argument being made.