Pennsylvania cases are reported in the Atlantic Reporter series (A., A.2d, A.3d). Pennsylvania still publishes official reporters — Pennsylvania State Reports (Pa.) for the Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports (Pa. Super.), and Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Reports (Pa. Cmwlth.). Under Bluebook Table T1, cite Pennsylvania cases to the Atlantic Reporter.
Pennsylvania has a unique three-tier appellate system with two intermediate appellate courts: the Superior Court (which handles most appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas) and the Commonwealth Court (which handles cases involving state and local government). The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort.
The correct abbreviations are: "Pa." for the Supreme Court, "Pa. Super. Ct." for the Superior Court, and "Pa. Commw. Ct." for the Commonwealth Court. Getting these right is important because the three courts have different jurisdictions and their decisions carry different precedential weight.
| Court | Bluebook Abbreviation | Reporter |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | Pa. | A.3d (A.2d) |
| Superior Court | Pa. Super. Ct. | A.3d |
| Commonwealth Court | Pa. Commw. Ct. | A.3d |
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Tincher v. Omega Flex, Inc., 104 A.3d 328 (Pa. 2014)
Superior Court
Doe v. Franklin Cnty., 174 A.3d 593 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017)
Commonwealth Court
Dept. of Transp. v. Taylor, 576 A.2d 1186 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1990)
Cite to the Atlantic Reporter (A.3d for recent cases) under Bluebook rules.
The Superior Court handles most appeals from trial courts. The Commonwealth Court handles cases involving the state government, local governments, and regulatory agencies.
Use "Pa. Commw. Ct." in the date parenthetical.
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