Court rules are cited under Bluebook Rule 12.9. Federal rules use standard abbreviations such as Fed. R. Civ. P. or Fed. R. App. P. The format includes the rule number and any subdivisions: Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Local rules and state court rules should include the court abbreviation and rule number. The Bluebook favors abbreviations found in Table T1 for court names. Always confirm the specific rule set, such as the Federal Rules of Evidence or Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
When a rule has been amended, cite to the current version unless you are discussing historical language.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56.
Federal Rules of Evidence
Fed. R. Evid. 401.
Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(8)(A).
State Rule
Cal. R. Ct. 8.204(a)(1).
Use Fed. R. Civ. P. followed by the rule number and subdivisions, such as Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Not typically. Cite the rule number and subdivisions. Include a year only when required by local rules or when citing an older version.
Include the court abbreviation and the rule number, such as N.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 7-3.
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Master Bluebook citation format for federal statutes (U.S.C.), state codes, and session laws with proper section symbols, date parentheticals, and code abbreviations.
Learn the Bluebook rules for citing cases from federal and state courts with correct reporter, court, and year format.
Cite the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions with correct article, amendment, and section formatting.
Cite books, treatises, and hornbooks with the right author, title, edition, and page format.
Cite websites, online reports, and digital sources with proper author, title, and URL format.
Cite agency decisions, administrative opinions, and guidance documents using Bluebook Rule 14 and 15 conventions.
Format citations for law review articles, journal essays, and academic legal publications following Bluebook Rule 16 conventions.
Format citations for the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Federal Register rules, and state administrative regulations following Bluebook Rule 14.
Format citations for bilateral and multilateral treaties, international agreements, and conventions following Bluebook Rule 21.4.
Disclaimer: While this guide follows Bluebook 21st edition rules, always verify citations with official Bluebook resources or your institution's requirements. This content is for educational assistance only.
Our generator handles the formats you use most, but legal writing courses grade you against the rule itself — and professors ask you to defend a citation by number. Check which edition your school requires before ordering; it's the one book where the wrong edition genuinely costs you points.
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