Case Law Quote and Citation Sheet

What a good one includes

• Clear organization grouping cases by binding versus persuasive authority relative to your specific jurisdiction.
• Flawless Bluebook citations that point directly to the exact page number of the quoted text to ensure instant verification.
• Concise, active-verb explanatory parentheticals that briefly contextualize how the cited case applies to your specific facts.
• High-impact, verbatim quotes that capture both the strict holding of the court and highly persuasive supporting dicta.
• A brief note on the procedural posture of each case to ensure the context matches your current litigation phase.
• Verification that each case remains good law, noted with relevant subsequent history like cert denied or distinguished by.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Including general reporter citations without specific pinpoint page numbers, forcing you to hunt through the opinion to find the actual quote.
• Failing to verify if a cited case has been overturned, questioned, or significantly distinguished by higher courts.
• Mixing federal and state-level precedents without clearly distinguishing which ones are binding versus merely persuasive for your forum.
• Extracting a quote that sounds favorable but actually stems from a dissenting opinion or an entirely different legal context.

Frequently asked questions