Bluebook Workshop - 1Ls

Bluebook Workshop

Title 2

Fall 2025 - LSV FIU Law Library

How Do I Master the Bluebook?

Learning to Navigate & Practice

Agenda

• Caselaw
• Statutes
• Periodicals

• Tables
• Spacing
• Signals
• Practice

B10 and Rule 10 - Caselaw

• Most Common Errors:

• Underlining or Italicizing punctuation after case names.
• Using See signal for direct statements and quotes
• Using Citations from Lexis or Westlaw assuming it will provide a correct Bluebook citation.
• Forgetting to follow local or state rules - remember to use 9.8 Appellate Florida Style Manual for Florida Court of Appeal Caselaw citation.

• Correct Abbreviations.

B12 and Rule 12 - Statutes

• Most Common Errors:
• Incorrect Abbreviations for Jurisdiction or Name of Code
• Year of Statutes needs to be the year the code edition is cited, not the year the act was passed.

B16 and Rule 16 - Periodical Materials

• Most Common Errors:
• Failing to italicize the title of article.
• Failing to write the name of periodical in small caps.
• Misuse of id. and supra.
• Id. is only used short form when the article has been cited in the immediately preceding footnote.
• If the article was cited a couple of footnotes previously you can use supra.

TIP: Check the Introductory Paragraph of Each Rule. Look past the examples in the Rules.

Tables

Table 1 - What Does it Provide?

• What do we get from T1:

• Correct Reporter Abbreviations

• Correct Court Abbreviations

• Jurisdiction Abbreviations

What Problems Does It Resolve?

Table 6 - What Does it Provide?

• What do we get from T6:

• Common Abbreviations for:
• Case names
• Institutional Author Names
• Periodical Titles

What Problems Does It Resolve?

Punctuation & Signals

Rule B6 or 6.1(a) - Punctuation

Example:

City of Miami Comm'n. v. Smith

City of Miami Comm'n v. Smith

What to do when I can't remember what rule or section of a rule addresses a source or issue?

Search the Index

Rule B1.2 and Rule 1.2- Signals

• Signals Direct Support or quote from that source or authority:
• No Signal
• Signal Support of Your Statement or Quote:

• E.g.,
• Accord
• See
• See also
• Cf.
• Signal Comparison Between Sources/Cases:
• Example: Compare (1st case), and (2nd case), with (Other Case)
• Signal Contradiction between authorities or sources:
• Contra
• But see
• But cf.
• Signal Helpful Background Information:
• See generally

Let's Practice Navigating Our Bluebook

Practice Q: Find the Error and the Corresponding Rule

(Ignore typeface for purposes of this question)

Mayor of the City of Tampa v. Hamilton

Mayor of Tampa v. Hamilton Rule 10.2.1(f)

Race Q#1: Find the Error and Corresponding Rule

HINT: Relevant Table and Rule - Find Both

State v. Whitaker, 350 P. 2d 47 (Wyo. 1998).

Remove space between "P." and "2d" for the reporter. Rule T1 - Wyoming Rule B6.1 or 6.1(a)

Race Q#2: Find the Error and Corresponding Rule

Here is a citation for a case between Hunter Hamilton and Martin & Associates, LLC from Florida Supreme Court.

Hamilton v. Martin & Associates, 350 P. 2d 47 (Wyo. 1998).

The word "Associates" is plural and should be abbreviated with the added "s." So it would be Assocs. Rule T6

Race Q#3: What is the rule governing this citation issue? HINT: This statute governs the child tax credit.

26 U.S.C. § 24

I.R.C. § 24 Rule B12.1.4

Example:

In my memo I want to list how many times someone trespassed on a section of property. They trespassed 15 times. What is the rule that determines whether or not the number 15 is spelled out or not.

It needs to be spelled out. Rule B6.2 and 6.2

T1 & BT2 - Abbreviation of Jurisdiction and Court?

What is the abbreviation of Ohio?

Ohio

What is the abbreviation of United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

D.C. Cir.

BT2 provides guidance on Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.800 or The Florida Style Manual (Fla. 3d DCA)

T1 - Spacing & Punctuation?

Is there a space, or period?

Which is Correct? 1 or 2?

(1) F. 3d (2) F.3d

T6 - What Happens When The Abbreviated Word is Plural?

Unless otherwise indicated, plurals are formed by adding the letter “s.”

Need to Abbreviate "Services"

Servs. or Serv.

T6 - Special Rules for Periodical Titles

When citing University U. instead of Univ.

Omit the words “a,” “at,” “in,” “of,” and “the” (but retain the word “on”). Furthermore, if the title consists of only one word after the words “a,” “at,” “in,” “of,” and “the” have been omitted, do not abbreviate the remaining word.

T1 - What Reporter?

What is the reporter of the following court?

(1) Circuit Court in Florida

Fla. L. Weekly Supp.

Including a Year?

The year of the cited code edition may be omitted when citing the official or unofficial United States Code, but not when citing other collections of law. Citations of an unofficial code, such as an "annotated code," (U.S.C.A.) must also include the name of the publisher in a parenthetical, (West) alongside the date, if included.