State Citation Guide

Maryland Bluebook Citation Guide

Format Bluebook citations for the Supreme Court of Maryland and Appellate Court of Maryland decisions.

Overview

Maryland cases are reported in the Atlantic Reporter series (A., A.2d, A.3d). Maryland still publishes official reporters — Maryland Reports (Md.) and Maryland Appellate Reports (Md. App.). Under Bluebook Table T1, cite Maryland cases to the Atlantic Reporter.

In 2022, Maryland renamed its courts: the Court of Appeals became the Supreme Court of Maryland, and the Court of Special Appeals became the Appellate Court of Maryland. Use "Md." for the Supreme Court (formerly Court of Appeals) and "Md. Ct. Spec. App." for the Appellate Court (formerly Court of Special Appeals) for cases decided before the name change. For cases after the 2022 change, use "Md." and "Md. App. Ct." respectively.

Maryland Court Hierarchy

CourtBluebook AbbreviationReporter
Supreme Court of Maryland (fmr. Court of Appeals)Md.A.3d (A.2d)
Appellate Court of Maryland (fmr. Ct. of Spec. App.)Md. App. Ct.A.3d

Maryland Citation Rules

  • Cite to A.3d (or A.2d for older cases) under Bluebook rules.
  • Use "Md." for the Supreme Court (formerly Court of Appeals).
  • For pre-2022 intermediate court cases, use "Md. Ct. Spec. App." For post-2022, use "Md. App. Ct."
  • Maryland still publishes official reporters, but the Bluebook does not require parallel citations.
  • Include the year of the decision in the parenthetical.

Example Citations

Court of Appeals (pre-2022)

Kelley v. R.G. Indus., Inc., 497 A.2d 1143 (Md. 1985)

Court of Special Appeals (pre-2022)

Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. v. Garrett, 682 A.2d 1143 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1996)

Frequently Asked Questions

What reporter do I cite for Maryland cases?

Cite to the Atlantic Reporter (A.3d for recent cases) under Bluebook rules.

How do Maryland's 2022 court name changes affect citations?

For cases decided before the 2022 change, use the old abbreviations ("Md." and "Md. Ct. Spec. App."). For post-2022 cases, the Supreme Court is still "Md." but the intermediate court becomes "Md. App. Ct."

Do I need parallel citations for Maryland cases?

Not under Bluebook rules, but Maryland courts may require them in filings.

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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.

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