IOP 11: Uniformity of Citation

1. The latest edition of the “Bluebook” (A Uniform System of Citation) will ordinarily be followed.

2. Citation of Opinions to Official Reports.

(a) In citing opinions of this court and its predecessors, cite as found in the Federal Reporter:

Doe v. Roe, 000 F.3d 333 (Fed. Cir. 2003).

Roe v. Doe, 000 F.2d 222 (Fed. Cir. 1982).

Goutos v. United States, 522 F.2d 922 (Ct. Cl. 1976).

In re Sponnoble, 405 F.2d 578 (CCPA 1969).

(b) Cite official reports of the Court of Claims only when the matter cited was not published in the Federal Reporter and cite official reports of the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals or the United States Patent Quarterly only when the matter was not published in the Federal Reporter:

Jones v. United States, 107 Ct. Cl. 806 (1972).

Rogers v. Smith, 35 CCPA 47 (1960).

In re John Doe, 33 USPQ2d 336 (Fed. Cir. 1999).

(c) Cite this court’s opinions in appeals from the Court of International Trade and the International Trade Commission as found in the Federal Reporter; may also cite U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Int’l Trade Cases (_____Fed. Cir. (T)_____):

United States v. Roses, Inc., 706 F.2d 1563, 1 Fed. Cir. (T) 39 (1983).

3. Cite Without Periods in CCPA (Modifies Bluebook).

4. In citing opinions of the Court of International Trade, cite as found in the Federal Supplement. Cite official reports of that court, (69 Cust. Ct. 105) or (4 CIT 110), only where the matter cited was not published in the Federal Supplement. In citing opinions of the Claims Court, cite as found in Claims Court Reports (Cl. Ct.). For cases appearing in 1 Cl. Ct. 1 through 1 Cl. Ct. 129, cite at the first occurrence in this court’s opinion the additional corresponding citation of 550 F. Supp. 669 through 555 F. Supp. 403. In citing opinions of the Court of Federal Claims, cite as found in the Federal Claims Reporter (Fed. Cl.).

5. In government contract cases, cite published opinions of Boards of Contract Appeals from the publications in which they appear, e.g., Goodyear Tire Co., ASBCA No. 12345, 74-2 BC ¶54321.

6. When an opinion has been published by a trial level tribunal in a recognized reporter, a citation thereto will be entered in the opinion of this court disposing of the appeal. When a slip opinion has been issued by a trial level tribunal and is intended for publication in a recognized reporter, but has not appeared in such reporter when our opinion is ready for issuance, the date and case number of the slip opinion will be cited in the opinion of this court. Issuance of opinions of this court will not be delayed by an effort to comply with this paragraph.

7. In citing patent and trademark opinions of other courts, cite as found in Federal Reporter or Federal Supplement.

8. Opinions of the Supreme Court and of this court relating to this court’s exclusive jurisdiction should be cited as precedent, in preference to opinions of courts no longer having jurisdiction over the subject matter with which the citation is concerned.

9. Respect for the tribunals from whose judgments and decisions appeals are taken to this court requires care in referring to those tribunals in our opinions. Reference should not be made to “the court below,” “the lower court,” “the lower tribunal,” or “the judge below.” Reference should be made to, e.g., “the district court,” “the trial court,” “the district judge,” “the trial tribunal,” or “the court.” The presiding officer in MSPB hearings is an “administrative judge.”