State Citation Guide

Rhode Island Bluebook Citation Guide

Format Bluebook citations for Rhode Island Supreme Court decisions.

Overview

Rhode Island cases are reported in the Atlantic Reporter series (A., A.2d, A.3d). Rhode Island discontinued its official reporter — Rhode Island Reports (R.I.) — in 1980. Under Bluebook Table T1, cite Rhode Island cases to the Atlantic Reporter.

Rhode Island does not have an intermediate appellate court. All appeals from the trial courts go directly to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Use "R.I." in the date parenthetical.

Rhode Island Court Hierarchy

CourtBluebook AbbreviationReporter
Supreme Court of Rhode IslandR.I.A.3d (A.2d)

Rhode Island Citation Rules

  • Cite to A.3d (or A.2d for older cases) — Rhode Island discontinued its official reporter in 1980.
  • Use "R.I." for the Supreme Court.
  • Rhode Island has no intermediate appellate court.
  • Include the year of the decision in the parenthetical.

Example Citations

Rhode Island Supreme Court

State v. Lead Indus. Ass'n, 951 A.2d 428 (R.I. 2008)

Supreme Court (Modern)

Almonte v. Flanders, 182 A.3d 573 (R.I. 2018)

Frequently Asked Questions

What reporter do I cite for Rhode Island cases?

Cite to the Atlantic Reporter (A.3d for recent cases). Rhode Island discontinued its official reporter in 1980.

Does Rhode Island have an intermediate appellate court?

No. All appeals go directly to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Does Rhode Island require parallel citations?

Not under Bluebook rules. Cite only to the Atlantic Reporter.

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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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