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Bluebook Citation Guide

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.

Overview

The South Western Reporter is a West regional reporter that publishes state court decisions from Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. The series has progressed through three iterations: S.W. (1886--1928), S.W.2d (1928--1999), and S.W.3d (1999--present).

Texas generates the largest share of opinions in this reporter. Texas has a distinctive court structure with two courts of last resort: the Supreme Court of Texas (for civil matters) and the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas (for criminal matters). Both are cited with their specific court abbreviations — "Tex." for the Supreme Court and "Tex. Crim. App." for the Court of Criminal Appeals. Intermediate Texas appellate courts are cited as "Tex. App." followed by the city where the court sits.

Each state in the South Western Reporter's coverage has its own court hierarchy and abbreviation conventions. Always check Bluebook Table T1 for the correct abbreviation. For example, Kentucky's highest court was renamed from the "Court of Appeals" to the "Supreme Court" in 1976, which affects how older cases are cited.

Formatting Rules

  • Include the state and court abbreviation in the date parenthetical, e.g., (Tex. 2000) or (Ky. Ct. App. 2015).
  • Use the correct series based on the decision date: S.W. (1886--1928), S.W.2d (1928--1999), S.W.3d (1999--present).
  • Texas has two courts of last resort: cite the Supreme Court of Texas as (Tex.) and the Court of Criminal Appeals as (Tex. Crim. App.).
  • For Texas intermediate appellate courts, use (Tex. App.—[City]) to identify the specific court of appeals, e.g., (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019).
  • Kentucky's highest court changed its name in 1976; cite pre-1976 cases as "Ky." (Court of Appeals) and post-1976 cases as "Ky." (Supreme Court).
  • Consult Bluebook Table T1 for each state's specific court abbreviations and reporter preferences.

Examples

Texas Supreme Court

Torrington Co. v. Stutzman, 46 S.W.3d 829 (Tex. 2000)

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Ex parte Brandley, 781 S.W.2d 886 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989)

Arkansas Supreme Court

Stambovsky v. Ackley, 169 S.W.3d 25 (Ark. 2004)

Missouri Supreme Court

State ex rel. Nixon v. Am. Tobacco Co., 34 S.W.3d 122 (Mo. 2000)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states are covered by the South Western Reporter?

The South Western Reporter covers Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.

How do I cite Texas Court of Criminal Appeals cases?

Use the abbreviation "Tex. Crim. App." in the date parenthetical. For example: Ex parte Brandley, 781 S.W.2d 886 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). This distinguishes the Court of Criminal Appeals from the Supreme Court of Texas.

When did the South Western Reporter switch from S.W.2d to S.W.3d?

The transition from S.W.2d to S.W.3d occurred in 1999. Cases decided before that date should be cited to S.W.2d.

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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.