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Bluebook Citation Guide

Pacific Reporter Citations (P., P.2d, P.3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Overview

The Pacific Reporter is a West regional reporter that publishes state court decisions from fifteen western and central states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The series has progressed through three iterations: P. (1883--1931), P.2d (1931--2000), and P.3d (2000--present).

The Pacific Reporter covers the largest geographic area of any regional reporter. Because it spans so many jurisdictions, including the state and court abbreviation in the date parenthetical is essential. California and Washington, two of the most populous states in the region, generate a particularly high volume of reported decisions. California appellate decisions may also appear in the California Reporter (Cal. Rptr.), and practitioners should check Bluebook Table T1 to determine which reporter to cite.

When citing a Pacific Reporter case, the format follows the standard Bluebook pattern: Case Name, Volume P./P.2d/P.3d First Page, Pinpoint Page (Court Year). Make sure to use the correct series designation based on the year of the decision and include the appropriate state and court abbreviation.

Formatting Rules

  • Include the state and court abbreviation in the date parenthetical, e.g., (Cal. 1963) or (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
  • Use the correct series based on the decision date: P. (1883--1931), P.2d (1931--2000), P.3d (2000--present).
  • For the highest court of a state, use only the state abbreviation (e.g., Cal., Wash., Colo.).
  • For intermediate appellate courts, include the full court abbreviation (e.g., Cal. Ct. App., Wash. Ct. App.).
  • California Supreme Court opinions should be cited to P.2d/P.3d in non-California filings; check local rules for California filings.
  • Consult Bluebook Table T1 for the correct abbreviation for each state's courts.

Examples

California Supreme Court

Greenman v. Yuba Power Prods., Inc., 377 P.2d 897 (Cal. 1963)

Washington Supreme Court

State v. Gregory, 427 P.3d 621 (Wash. 2018)

Colorado Supreme Court

People v. Dunlap, 975 P.2d 723 (Colo. 1999)

Oregon Supreme Court

State v. Stoneman, 920 P.2d 535 (Or. 1996)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states are covered by the Pacific Reporter?

The Pacific Reporter covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Should I cite California cases to the Pacific Reporter or the California Reporter?

In documents filed outside California or in law review articles, cite to the Pacific Reporter (P.2d or P.3d). In California state court filings, local rules typically require the official California Reports citation with a parallel Cal. Rptr. cite.

When did the Pacific Reporter switch from P.2d to P.3d?

The transition from P.2d to P.3d occurred in 2000. Cases decided before that date should be cited to P.2d.

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Atlantic Reporter Citations (A., A.2d, A.3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

South Western Reporter Citations (S.W., S.W.2d, S.W.3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.

North Western Reporter Citations (N.W., N.W.2d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

South Eastern Reporter Citations (S.E., S.E.2d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Southern Reporter Citations (So., So. 2d, So. 3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

North Eastern Reporter Citations (N.E., N.E.2d, N.E.3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio.

New York Supplement Citations (N.Y.S., N.Y.S.2d, N.Y.S.3d)

Format citations for decisions from all levels of the New York state court system, including the Court of Appeals, Appellate Division, and Supreme Court.

California Reporter Citations (Cal. Rptr., Cal. Rptr. 2d, Cal. Rptr. 3d)

Format citations for California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court decisions published in the California Reporter series.

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.