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Bluebook Citation Guide

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

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

Overview

The Southern Reporter is a West regional reporter that publishes state court decisions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The series has progressed through three iterations: So. (1887--1941), So. 2d (1941--2008), and So. 3d (2008--present).

Note the distinctive Bluebook abbreviation for this reporter: "So." with a space before the series number (So. 2d, So. 3d), unlike most other reporters that place the series number immediately after the abbreviation. This spacing convention must be followed precisely in Bluebook citations.

Florida generates the highest volume of opinions in this reporter. Florida has a complex court system including the Supreme Court of Florida, five District Courts of Appeal, and county courts. Louisiana, with its civil law tradition, also produces many reported decisions and uses unique legal terminology. When citing Louisiana cases, be aware of the distinctive court structure and abbreviation conventions.

Formatting Rules

  • Include the state and court abbreviation in the date parenthetical, e.g., (Fla. 2006) or (Ala. Civ. App. 2019).
  • Use the correct series based on the decision date: So. (1887--1941), So. 2d (1941--2008), So. 3d (2008--present).
  • Note the spacing: "So. 2d" and "So. 3d" — there is a space between "So." and the series number.
  • For Florida District Courts of Appeal, include the district number: (Fla. 1st DCA 2020), (Fla. 3d DCA 2019), etc.
  • Louisiana appellate courts are cited as (La. Ct. App. [circuit] [year]), e.g., (La. Ct. App. 4th Cir. 2018).
  • Consult Bluebook Table T1 for each state's specific court abbreviations.

Examples

Florida Supreme Court

Engle v. Liggett Grp., Inc., 945 So. 2d 1246 (Fla. 2006)

Alabama Supreme Court

Ex parte Bayliss, 550 So. 2d 986 (Ala. 1989)

Louisiana Supreme Court

Ardoin v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 360 So. 2d 1331 (La. 1978)

Mississippi Supreme Court

Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc. v. Bailey, 878 So. 2d 31 (Miss. 2004)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states are covered by the Southern Reporter?

The Southern Reporter covers Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Why is there a space in 'So. 2d' and 'So. 3d'?

The Bluebook abbreviation for Southern is "So." (with the period), and the series number follows after a space. This differs from reporters like F.2d or N.E.2d where the series number attaches directly. Always follow this convention exactly.

When did the Southern Reporter switch from So. 2d to So. 3d?

The transition from So. 2d to So. 3d occurred in 2008. Cases decided before that date should be cited to So. 2d.

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

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.

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.

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.