Introduction to Basic Legal Citation - access-to-law home

• Reduce all remaining procedural phrases that are roughly equivalent to "In the matter
of," "Petition of," and the like to In re.
§ 4-300(6) Examples
– Smith v. Jones, 00 N.Y.S.3d 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
not
– Smith v. Jones, Executor, 00 N.Y.S.3d 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
Principle 6: Omit terms like "trustee," "executor," or "administrator" that described a named
party.
§ 4-300(7) Examples
– Dukakis v. Massachusetts, 00 U.S. 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
not
– Dukakis v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 00 U.S. 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
– Dukakis v. Commonwealth, 00 Mass. 123, 00 N.E.2d 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
not
– Dukakis v. Massachusetts, 00 Mass. 123, 00 N.E.2d 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
Principle 7: Omit "State of" or its equivalents
except: when citing decisions of the courts of the state in question, in which case omit the
name of the state instead and keep "State" or the equivalent term.
§ 4-300(8) Examples
– Angelo v. Common Council of Syracuse, 00 N.Y.3d 123, 00 N.E.2d 123, 00 N.Y.S.2d 123
(1999) (fictional citation).
not
– Angelo v. Common Council of City of Syracuse, 00 N.Y.3d 123, 00 N.E.2d 123, 00
N.Y.S.2d 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
– Tarson v. City of Syracuse Dept. of Pub. Works, 00 N.Y.3d 123, 00 N.E.2d 123, 00
N.Y.S.2d 123 (1999) (fictional citation).
not
– Tarson v. Syracuse Dept. of Pub. Works, 00 N.Y.3d 123, 00 N.E.2d 123, 00 N.Y.S.2d
123 (1999) (fictional citation).
Principle 8: Omit "City of" or its equivalents
except: when the phrase begins a party name.
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