LEGAL
CITATION
Devilleres, Lim, Medina, Novelero, and Tupas
LLB-1 Sanchez Roman
OUTLINE OF REPORT
Introduction
Definition
Importance
Types of Citation Principles
Norms/Sources
How to Cite Sources
The Blue Book
US Context
Philippine Context
Philippine Manual of Legal Citations
Basic Rules on Legal Citation
Abbreviations
Spacing
References
DEFINITION OF CITATION
It is a reference to legal authorities or
precedents such as statutes, cases, regulations
and law review articles (Martin, 2012).
A reference to legal precedent or authority,
such as case, statute, or treatise, that either
substantiates or contradicts a given position
(Blacks Law Dictionary).
IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL
CITATION
It is used in arguments to courts, legal textbooks, law review articles and
the like to establish or fortify the propositions argued.
Citations to legal materials follow a standard format which makes it
possible for anyone using a law library to find cited cases, statutes,
regulations, and law review articles.
The task of "legal citation" in short is to provide sufficient information to the reader of a brief or
memorandum to aid a decision about which authorities to check as well as in what order to consult
them and to permit efficient and precise retrieval all of that, without consuming any more space or
creating any more distraction than is absolutely necessary.
IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL
CITATION
A reference properly written in "legal citation" strives to
do at least three things, within limited space:
identify the document and document part to which the writer is referring
provide the reader with sufficient information to find the document or document
part in the sources the reader has available (which may or may not be the same
sources as those used by the writer), and
furnish important additional information about the referenced material and its
connection to the writer's argument to assist readers in deciding whether or not
to pursue the reference.
TYPES OF CITATION
PRINCIPLES
Full Address Principles
Principles that specify completeness of the
address or identification of a cited document or
document portion in terms that will allow the
reader to retrieve it.
TYPES OF CITATION
PRINCIPLES
Other Minimum Content Principles
Principles that call for the inclusion in a citation of additional
information items beyond a retrieval address the full name of
the author of a journal article, the year a decision was
rendered or a statutory codification last updated.
Compacting Principles
Principles that reduce the space taken up by the information
items included in a citation.
Format Principles
Principles about punctuation, typography, order of items
within a citation, and the like.
WHO SETS CITATION
NORMS?
There is no national citation standard-setting
authority.
For most law writing, the relevant citations
norms are set by widely accepted professional
usage.
BLUE BOOK
A uniform system of citation
It is widely used in the United
States
Nineteenth edition
compiled by:
Columbia Law Review
Harvard Law Review
The University of Pennsylvania
Law Review
The Yale Law Journal
ALWD CITATION MANUAL
professional system of
citation
consistent with Blue
Book
filled with examples of
citation forms
CHICAGO MANUAL STYLE
Maroon Book
offered a distinctly
different and less rigid
set of rules.
WHO SETS CITATION
NORMS?
Supreme Court and court systems
The norms set out in national manuals are supplemented or
overridden by court rules
the content, composition, and format of legal memoranda and briefs.
In the end, most of "legal citation," like most of any language, is
established by evolving usage, reinforced in some cases, altered
in others, by the members of distinct communities.
BASIC PARTS OF LEGAL CITATION:
1. the name of the case, statute, or article
2.
a statement of where the item can be found
in a multi-volume set of legal materials
written as:
3.
volume number name of publication(or set) page number
a date
HOW TO CITE?
Following BLUE BOOK on PRIMARY
and SECONDARY Sources ( US
CONTEXT)
CASE DOCUMENTS
LAW JOURNAL WRITING
BOOKS
COURT RULES
ARBITRATIONS
AGENCY AND EXECUTIVE
MATERIAL
CONSTITUTION AND
STATUTES
JUDICIAL OPINIONS
ELECTRONIC SOURCES
HOW TO CITE?
THE BLUE BOOK :APPLIED IN
PHILIPPINE CONTEXT
ORDER OF AUTHORITIES
PRIMARY
Constitution
Statutes, treaties and other international
instruments
Cases
Legislative Documents other than statutes
Administrative or executive documents
Implementing Rules and Regulations
Court Documents including Rules of Court
Documents of intergovernmental
organizations
ORDER OF AUTHORITIES
SECONDARY
Books, Annotations and Treatises
Journal Articles
Periodical Articles
Internet Sources
Interviews
Papers and Theses
Miscellaneous
CONSTITUTION
Current Constitution:
{STATE OR COUNTRY} CONST.
{subdivisions}
PHIL. CONST. art. VI, 11, 2.
Repealed Constitution:
{Year of adoption} {STATE OR COUNTRY}
CONST. {subdivisions} ({year superseded}).
1935 Phil. Const. art. 1, 1 (superseded
1971).
CODES AND STATUTES
Codes
{full title} {SHORT TITLE}, {statute number,
{subdivisions} ({year}).
An Act Revising the Penal Code and Other Penal
Law {REVISED PENAL CODE], Act No. 3815, art.
(1932).
Short citation and subsequent citations:
{SHORT TITLE}, {subdivisions}.
REVISED PENAL CODE, arts. 171-173.
Id.
Id. Art. 180, 2.
CODES AND STATUTES
Statutes
{full title} [{Short title, if any}], {statute
number}, {subdivisions} ({year}).
An Act Penalizing the Making or Drawing and
Issuance of a Check Without Sufficient Funds or Credit
and for Other Purposes, Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, 6
(1978).
Short citation and subsequent citations:
{Short Title or abbreviated statute number}, {subd.}.
B.P. Blg. 22, 5.
Id.
Id. 2.
CODES AND STATUTES
Statutes
An Act Providing for the Recognition and Use of
Electronic Commercial and Non-commercial
Transactions and Documents, Penalties for Unlawful
Use Thereof and For Other Purposes [e-Commerce
Act of 2008], Republic Act. No. 8792, 33 (2000).
Short citation and subsequent citations:
E-Commerce Act of 2008, 33-34.
Id.
Id. 10.
CASES (JUDICIAL
DECISIONS)
Supreme Court Decisions
Reported Cases General Rule
{case name}, {volume number} {Reporter} {first
page}, {cited page} ({year}).
Laurel v. Abrogar, 483 SCRA 243, 245 (2006).
Unreported Cases Exception
{case name}, {G.R. Number} {Reporter}, {cited
page} {date}.
People v. Ramos, G.R. No. 172470, Apr. 8, 2008.
CASES (JUDICIAL
DECISIONS)
Short citation and subsequent citations:
Laurel, 483 SCRA at 269.
Id. at 255.
Id.
People v. Ramos, G.R. No. 172470, Apr. 8,
2008.
Id.
CASES (JUDICIAL
DECISIONS)
Decisions of other Philippine courts
{case name}, {volume number} {Reporter}
{first page}, {cited page} ({Court} {year}).
People v. Collantes, 37 O.G. 1804, 1805
(Court of Appeals 1926).
If unreported, follow the same format as
that of the Supreme Courts unreported
cases.
(Exception)
LEGISLATIVE MATERIALS
Bills
{title}, {legislature}, {session}, in
{publication, if any} {subdivision} ({date}).
H.B. 604, 13th Cong., 2d Sess. (May 12,
2007, in 128 Cong. Rec. S. 7091 (May 19,
2007).
LEGISLATIVE MATERIALS
Bills with hearings held
{title of hearing, including the bill number and
committee which held the hearing},
{legislature}
{page number} ({year of hearing}) ({parenthetical
information about person testifying}).
Benefits for U.S. Victims of International
Terrorism:
Hearing on S. 1275 Before
the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, 108th Cong. 2-5 (2003) (statement
of William H. Taft, IV, Legal
Advisor, Dept. of State).
LEGISLATIVE MATERIALS
Congressional Reports
{title and author, if any} {H.R. or S. to indicate House of
Representatives or Senate} REP. NO. {Number of Congress}{Number of Report}, at
{page number} ({year}).
H.R. REP. NO. 99-226, at 8 (1985).
Congressional Journals
{volume, if any} {JOURNAL OF CHAMBER OF CONGRESS} {journal
number}, {legislature}, {session} ({date}).
SENATE JOURNAL 722, 13th Cong. 1st Reg. Sess., Senate Sess. No.
67 (Mar. 7, 2005).
68 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 14, 13th
Cong., 1st Reg. Sess. (May 10-11, 2005).
EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
MATERIALS
{issuing agency}, {title, if any}, {issuance or series number, if any},
{volume} {official source, if any} {page or section number}
({date}).
Bureau of Internal Revenue, Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 3793, 89 O.G. 4476 (Aug. 9, 1993).
Bureau of Internal Revenue, Rev. Reg. No. 16, 2005, Effectivity Clause
(Sep. 1, 2005).
Office of the President, Instituting the Presidential Award for Heroism
in Times of Disaster, Executive Order No. 421 (Sep. 7, 1990).
Securities and Exchange Commission, Code of Corporate
Governance, SEC Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2002 (Apr.
5, 2002).
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND
REGULATIONS
{title of statute}, {subdivisions} ({year}).
Rules and Regulations Implementing the
Anti-Violence against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004, 14 (a) (2004).
Id.
Rules and Regulations Implementing the eCommerce Act of 2000, 1 (2000).
Id. 5.
RULES OF COURT
{TITLE OF RULES}, {rule}, {subdivisions}.
2000 REVISED RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE,
rule 110, 4.
Id.
1997 RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, rule 41, 2 (a).
Id.
1991 Revised Rules on Summary Procedure, 10.
Id.
BOOKS, ANNOTATIONS,
TREATISES
Books and Treatises General Rule:
{AUTHOR}, {TITLE} {cited page} ({year} or
{edition number} {year} or {year of edition}).
RUBEN F. BALANE, JOTTINGS IN CIVIL LAW:
SUCCESSION 53 (2d ed. 2002).
JOAQUIN G. BERNAS, S.J., THE 1987
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES: A COMMENTARY 1195 (2003 ed.)
SAMUEL WILLISTON, A TREATISE ON THE LAW
OF CONTRACTS, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
TREATISE 120-21 (1990).
BOOKS, ANNOTATIONS,
TREATISES
Books and Treatises Multi-Volume Work
{volume number} {AUTHOR}, {TITLE} {cited page}
({year} or {edition number} {year} or {year of
edition}).
4 OSCAR B. HERRERA, REMEDIAL LAW 150 (2001
ed.)
Books and Treatises With Editor or Translator
{AUTHOR}, {TITLE} {cited page} ({Editor or
translator} {ed(s). or trans.}, {year}).
ADAM SMITH, THE WEALTH OF NATIONS 30-31
(Edwin Cannan ed., 2000).
WOMEN AND LANGUAGE IN LITERATURE AND
SOCIETY 284-99 (Ruth Broker, et al., eds., 1980).
BOOKS, ANNOTATIONS,
TREATISES
Books and Treatises 2 Authors
{AUTHOR 1} & {AUTHOR 2}, {TITLE} {cited
page} ({year} or {edition number} {year} or
{year of edition}).
JUSTICE JOSE C. VITUG & JUDGE ERNESTO D.
ACOSTA, TAX LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE 150
(2d ed. 2000).
Books and Treatises More than 2 authors
{AUTHOR 1} ET AL., {TITLE} {cited page}
({year} or {edition number} {year} or {year of
edition}).
JOSUE N. BELLOSILLO, ET AL., OMNIBUS
ELECTION CODE 181 (2007).
BOOKS, ANNOTATIONS,
TREATISES
Books and Treatises Short citation and
subsequent citations:
BALANE, supra note 50, at 104.
Id.
VITUG & ACOSTA, supra note 52, at 205.
Cruz, et al., supra note 68, at 305.
Id.
Id. at 288.
3 REGALADO, supra note 80, at 206.
Id. at 299.
BOOKS, ANNOTATIONS,
TREATISES
Annotations
{Author}, Annotation, {Title}, {volume
number} {Reporter} {first page}, {cited
page} ({year}).
Jorge R. Coquia, Annotation, The National
Computerized Identification Reference
System as Violation of the Right to Privacy: A
Review of the Principles and Jurisprudence on
Privacy as Human Rights, 293 SCRA 201, 203
(1998).
JOURNAL ARTICLES
{Author}, {Title}, {volume number} {JOURNAL}
{first page, {cited page} ({year}).
Patrick Simon S. Perillo, Transporting the
Concept of Creeping Expropriation from de Lege
Ferenda to de Lege Lata: Concretizing the
Nebulous under International Law 53 ATENEO
L.J. 434, 488 (2008).
Short citation and subsequent citations:
Perillo, supra note 43, at 489-90.
Id.
Id. at 488.
PERIODICALS
Magazine
{Author}, {Title}, {NAME OF MAGAZINE},
{date}, at {first page of article}.
Usha Tankha, Transforming Misfortune into
Opportunity, ADB REV., Apr.-May 2006, at 30.
Newspaper Article
{Author}, {Headline}, {ABBREVIATION OF
NEWSPAPER}, {date of article}, at {page on
which article appears}.
John M. Broder, Clinton Adamant on 3D World
Role in Climate Accord, N.Y. TIMES, Dec. 12,
1997, at A1.
INTERNET SOURCES
{Author if available}, {title}, available at
{internet address/website} (last accessed
{date}).
Barry M. Leiner, et al., A Brief History of the
Internet, available at
http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtm
l#Introduction (last accessed Apr. 26, 2007).
Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau, Tamaraw
Conservation Project, available at
http://www.pawb.gov.ph/progs/tamaraw.htm
(last accessed Dec. 27, 2002).
Note: Remove hyperlink.
INTERVIEWS
In-person Interview
{Name}, {Title}, {Institutional Affiliation, if any, of
the interviewee}, in {location of the interview}
({date of the interview}).
Interview with Dick Cheney, Vice-President,
United States of America, in Washington, D.C.
(Oct. 24, 2006).
Telephone Interview
{Name}, {Title}, {Institutional Affiliation, if any, of
the interviewee}, in {location of the interview}
({date of the interview}).
Telephone Interview with Orhan Pamuk, in
Stockholm (Oct. 12, 2006).
INTERVIEWS
Interview not personally conducted by the
author
{Name of interviewer}, {Name of
interviewee}, {Title}, {Institutional Affiliation,
if any, of the interviewee}, in {location of the
interview} ({date of the interview}).
Interview by Harry Keisler with Kofi Annan,
Secretary General, United Nations, in
University of California, Berkeley (Apr. 19,
1998).
THESES
{Author}, {Title} ({date}) ({indicate type of work},
{institution that awarded the degree}) ({where it can
be found}).
Archie E. Blake, Daubert and Reality: A Survey of
Nevada Judges (1996) (unpublished thesis, University of
Nevada) (on file with Reno Library, University of
Nevada).
Rosalyn C. Rayco, Cyber-Prostitution at a Click of a
Button: Evaluating the Applicability of Prostitution
Statutes in Criminalizing Paid Video-based Cybersex
(2006) (unpublished J.D. thesis, Ateneo de Manila
University) (on file with the Professional Schools Library,
Ateneo de Manila University).
BASIC FOREIGN MATERIALS
United Nations
General Assembly Resolutions
{Resolution number}, {at page number, if if possible,
paragraph number}, U.N. GAOR, {session or volume
number}, {supplement or annex number}, {designation}
({year}).
G.A. Res. 2131, at 107-08, U.N. GAOR, 20th Sess., Supp. No.
12, U.N. Doc. A/6012 (1965).
G.A. Res. 57/377, 3, U.N. Doc. A/Res/57/377 (July 3,
2003).
G.A. Res. 2131, supra note 34, at 2.
BASIC FOREIGN MATERIALS
United Nations
Reports
{name of issuing body}, [{abbreviation}], {sub-committee
that prepared the report}, {title of the report}, {paragraph
number or the pinpoint cite}, U.N. Doc. {document
number} ({date}) ({author included, if available}).
U.N. Econ. & Soc. Council [ECOSOC], United Nations
Forum on Forests, Report of the Seventh Session, Chapt. I,
A.1.1. at 1, U.N. Doc. E/CN.18/2007/8 (Feb. 24, 2006 and
Apr. 16-27, 2007).
BASIC FOREIGN MATERIALS
Treaties, Conventions, Protocols
{name of agreement}, {subdivision, if cited
only in part}, {full date of signing},
{international treaty sources}.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Dec. 10,
1982, Preamble, 1983 U.N.T.S. 3 [hereinafter UNCLOS].
Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nov. 20, 1989, art.
19, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3 [hereinafter CRC].
Id. art. 23.
UNCLOS, supra note 93, at art. 192.
Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, U.S.-Thail., June
8, 1968, 652 U.N.T.S. 253 [hereinafter T.E.A.R.].
Exception: U.N. CHARTER, art. 43, 1.
BASIC FOREIGN MATERIALS
Cases
{Case name}, ({parties name, except if it is
an advisory opinion}), {volume number and
name of publication} {case number}, {page
number} ({date}).
Asylum (Colom. v. Peru), 1950 I.C.J. 266,
277-78 (Nov. 20, 1950).
Legal Status of Eastern Greenland Case,
1933 P.C.I.J. Ser. A/B No. 53, Ser. C., vol. 62,
43, 109, vol. 63, 858 (Apr. 5, 1933).
Asylum, 1950 I.C.J. at 278.
PHILIPPINE MANUAL
ON LEGAL CITATIONS
Primary and Secondary Sources
COURT DECISIONS CASE NAMES
General Rule :
Cite cases by giving the surname of the parties, the volume, the title
and page of reports, and the year of promulgation in
parenthesis. Abbreviate versus or contra as v. When used in the
text, underscore the title of the case. If printed, italicize. Place the
source or citation in the footnote.
Example:
Ariaga v. Javellana, 92 Phil. 330 (1952)
If two or more actions are consolidated in one decision, cite only
the first listed
COURT DECISIONS CASE
NAMES
Exceptions :
1. Cite Islamic and Chinese names in full. As to those with Christian full names,
follow the general rule.
Examples:
Lim Sian Tek v. Ladislao
Una Kibad v. Commission on Elections
(Note: The reason why Chinese and Islamic names are spelled out in full is that there are many similar
names in Chinese aggravated by the absence of a middle name or middle initial, to distinguish
one person from the other.)
2. Cite Compound names in full.
Examples:
People v. De la Cruz
Abad Santos v. Auditor General
Galeos-Valdehuesa v. Republic
Always cite names of Corporations, associations, business firms and
partnership in full. Words forming such parts may be abbreviated,
except the first word.
Examples:
Mata v. Rita Legarda, Inc. Allied Workers Assn of the Phil. V. Republic Trading Corp.
However, if one of the parties is a partnership, do not omit any portion of
the partnership name.
WRONG:
Cruz v. Merill, Lynch.
RIGHT:
Cruz v. Merill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith, Inc.
Likewise, omit alternative names given for any party such as a trade
name under which the party conducts business.
WRONG:
Wilson U. Ng doing business and style as Compact Blockbuster Video, Inc. v. Juan de la
Cruz
RIGHT:
Ng v. De la Cruz
In special proceedings, Estate of, Intestate of and Will of are not
considered procedural phrases, but are part of the case name. Do not omit
these terms.
WRONG:
In re Le Liong
RIGHT:
Intestate Estate of Le Liong v. Ang Chia, L-3342, April 18,1951
Cite cases involving the Government of the Philippines and
criminal cases as follows:
Government v. _______;
Commonwealth v. _______;
Republic v. _______;
U.S. v. _______;
People v. _______;
D epending upon the title of the case.
Examples:
Government v. Abadinas
Republic v. Carpin
Commonwealth v. Corominas
U.S. v. Jaranilla
People v. Santos
Cite cases involving public offices or officers as follows:
a.Where the person is named in his official capacity, give the name of the
person only.
Examples:
City of Manila v. Subido not City of Manila v. Subido, in his capacity as Civil Service
Commisioner
Gonzales v. Hechanova not Gonzales v. Executive Secretary
b. Where the office is named, give the complete name of the office.
Examples:
Collector of Internal Revenue v. Tan Eng Hong
Chief of Phil. Constabulary v. Sabungan Bagong Silangan
Always cite Municipality of _____, City of _____, Province of _____ as they appear in
the decisions.
Examples:
Province of Rizal v. R.T.C 7.
Cite case names beginning with procedural terms like Ex parte, Ex rel and In re as
they appear in the decision. Use In re instead of In the matter of.
Examples:
Ex parte Milligan
U.S. ex rel Great house v. Smith
CASE REPORTS
Supreme Court Decisions
Supreme Court decisions are printed in an official report and in at least two
unofficial reports.
Official Reports
Official reports are printed by the court issuing the case, out of funds provided by the legislature. For
example, the official site for Supreme Court cases is the Philippine Reports. This is published by
the Supreme Court.
Unofficial Reports
All commercially published reporters such as the Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA) and the
Supreme Court Advanced decisions (SCAD) contain unofficial reports.
When the decision is already found in the Philippine Reports, indicate only the
Philippine Reports citation.
PHILIPPINE REPORTS
Cite as: volume Phil. page (year)
Example:
Diaz v. Estrera, 106 Phil. 637 (1947)
If the case is not yet published either in the Philippine Reports
or in the SCRA or SCAD, or it is a very recent decision, cite the
title of the case, the G.R. number, then the date.
Example:
People v. Nubia, G.R. No. 137164, June 19, 2001
OFFICIAL GAZETTE
Cite G.T. docket number and date of promulgation before the O.G.
citation.
Cite as: G.R. No. _____, date promulgated, volume O.G. page(Month and
year of issue).
Example:
Espiritu v. Rivera, G.R. No. 17092, September 30, 1963, 62 O.G.7226 (Oct. 1966).
If the decision is found in a supplement, indicate the supplement number,
page, and date of issue.
Example:
46 O.G. Supp. No. 11, 22 (Nov. 1950).
GENERAL REGISTER (G.R.) Advance decision of the Supreme
Court.
Cite as: G.R. No. _____, date of promulgation, omitting the L-which
refers to post liberation decisions.
Example:
Estapa v. Diansay, G.R. No. 14733, September 30, 1960
For disciplinary cases against attorney-at-law, cite as: G. R. Adm.
Case No. _____, date of promulgation.
Example: In re
Mallare, G.R. Adm. Case No. 533, April 29, 1968.
For disciplinary cases against judges, cite as: G.R. Adm.
Case/Matter No. _____, date of promulgation.
Example:
Secretary of Justice v. Catolico, G.R. Adm. Case no. 203-J& Adm. Matter No.
625-CFI, November 18, 1975.
COURT OF APPEALS
DECISIONS, 1936
1. APPELATE COURT REPORTS (v. 21, 1937 and V. 8, 1947 are the only ones
published)
Cite as: volume C.A. Rep. page(year)
Example:
Chunaco v. Singh, 8 C.A. Rep. 488 (1947)
2. COURT OF APPEALS REPORTS, Second Series
Cite as: volume C.A. Rep. 2d page(year)
Example:
Flores v. Valpena, 2 C.A. Rep. 2d 64 (1962)
3. COURT OF APPEALS GENERAL REGISTRAR (C.A. G.R.) Advance decisions of
the Court of Appeals.
Cite as: C.A.-G.R. No. _____-R, CV, CR, or SP, date of promulgation.
Example
: Caliboso v. Bueno, C.A-G.R. No. 20401-R, April 8, 1960.
OFFICIAL GAZETTE
Cite as: Sandiganbayan Crim. Case No. _____, date
of promulgation, volume O.G. page (month and year of
issue).
Example:
Manila Electric Co. v. Allarde, C.A. Sp No. 11850, May 15,
1987,86 O.G. 3447 (May, 1990)
Other Courts
1.
SANDIGANBAYAN DECISIONS
Cite as: Sandiganbayan Crim. Case No. _____, date of promulgation,
volume Sandiganbayan Rep. page (year of issue).
Example:
People v. Sabarre, Sandiganbayan Crim. Case No. 001,December 12, 1979, 1
Sandiganbayan Rep. 305 (1979).
2. COURT OF TAX APPEALS DECISIONS Cite as: CTA Case No.
_____, date of promulgation.
Example:
Abad. V. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, CTA CaseNo. 717, June 4, 1963
OTHER COURTS
3. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT DECISION Cite as: RTC (Place and Brance No.
___) Crim. Case or S.P. No. R-_____, date of promulgation.
Example:
People v. Johnson, RTC (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro,Br. 45) Crim. Case No. R1681, August 6, 1984
4. METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT Cite as: MeTC (Place and Branch No.) Civil or
CriminalCase No. _____, date of promulgation.
Example:
Skell Distribution Co., Inc. v. Balmaceda, MeTC (Manila,Branch X) Civil Case No. 59563, July 20,
1982.
5. MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUITTRIAL COURT
DECISIONS Cite as: MCTC or MTC (Place) Crim. Case No. _____, dateof
promulgation.
Example:
People v. Soliven, MCTC (Paoay-Currimao, Ilocos Norte)Crim. Case No. 992-C, November 11, 1983.
Administrative Decisions
Cite by the name of the agency (when there is an abbreviatedform,
use abbreviation or acronym) case number and date
of promulgation.
Example:
Tinio v. Dizon, DANR Case No. 2734, April 24, 1967.
In re Colocado, CSC Adm. Case No. R-27182, September 26,1964.
BASIC RULES ON
LEGAL CITATION
UNDERLINING
There
are different rules for academic writing and
practitioner writing
Publication names can be underlined OR set in italics.
Underlining is the more common convention
If underlining is used instead of italics it should continue
under successive words that are part of the same phrase
but break between items.
When "e.g." appears with another signal the two
together are treated as a single item. Punctuation that is
part of any of the above elements is italicized along with
it, but punctuation that separates that element from
other parts of the citation should not be.
UNDERLINING IN CITATIONS
DO UNDERLINE
DO NOT UNDERLINE
Case names (including the "v."
Statutes
and procedural phrases, such as
"In re")
Publication titles
Article titles
Legislative history titles
Explanatory phrase that explain
prior or subsequent history (such
as "cert. denied")
Cross reference (such as "Id.")
Constitutions
Restatements
Reporter names
Procedural rules
Names of journals
UNDERLINING IN TEXT
The following words or phrases should be italicized
when they appear in the text of a brief or legal
memorandum:
references to titles or case names in the text without full citation
(even those which would, in full citation, not be underlined)
foreign words that have not been assimilated into lawyer jargon
quoted words that were italicized in the original
emphasized words
ABBREVIATIONS
USED IN CITATIONS
IN CASE NAMES
Abbreviate the listed words wherever they appear in a party's name
that is part of a citation.
Abbreviate any state that is included in a party name
For a number of words, but following no consistent pattern, The
Bluebook uses contractions (e.g., Eng'r and Int'l, though curiously
Envtl.). Prior to the fourth edition, the ALWD Citation Manual
abbreviations used no apostrophes; all ended with periods (e.g.,
Engr. and Intl.).
Except when the abbreviation list explicitly provides for the plural,
the plural of a listed word is abbreviated by adding an "s" to the
abbreviation of the singular.
Eng'r - Eng'rs
Enter. - Enters.
Mfr. - Mfrs.
IN CASE HISTORIES
acquiescing
acq.
nonacquiescing
nonacq.
affirmed
aff'd
probable
prob.
affirming
aff'g
rehearing
reh'g
certiorari
cert.
reversed
rev'd
jurisdiction
juris.
reversing
rev'g
memorandum
mem.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND BOARDS
EXERCISING REGULATORY AND QUASIJUDICIAL FUNCTIONS
Bureau of Food and Drugs
Bureau of Lands
Central Board of Assessment Appeals
Civil Aeronautics Board
Civil Service Commission
Commission on Audit
Commission on Elections
Commission on Higher Education
Commission on Human Rights
Department of Agriculture
Department of Energy
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Finance
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Interior and Local Government
Department of Justice
Department of Labor and Employment
Department of National Defense
Department of Public Works and Highways
Department of Science and Technology
BFAD
BL
CBAA
CAB
CSC
COA
COMELEC
CHED
CHR
DA
DE
DENR
DOF
DFA
DILG
DOJ
DOLE
DND
DPWH
DOST
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND BOARDS
EXERCISING REGULATORY AND QUASIJUDICIAL FUNCTIONS
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
Local Water Utilities Administration
Maritime Industry Authority
Merit Systems Board
Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System
Monetary Board
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
National Bureau of Investigation
National Conciliation and Mediation Board
National Economic Development Authority
National Food Authority
National Housing Authority
National Irrigation Administration
National Labor Relations Commission
National Library
National Telecommunications Commission
Office of the Solicitor General
Office of the Ombudsman
Office of Government Corporate Counsel
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine Coconut Authority
Philippine Export Zone Authority
Philippine National Railways
LTFRB
LWUA
MARINA
MSB
MWSS
MB
MTRCB
NBI
NCMB
NEDA
NFA
NHA
NIA
NLRC
NL
NTC
OSG
OMBUDSMAN
OGCC
OWWA
PCG
PCA
PEZA
PNR
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND BOARDS
EXERCISING REGULATORY AND QUASIJUDICIAL FUNCTIONS
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Philippine Sports Commission
Philippine Veterans Administration
Professional Regulation Commission
Securities and Exchange Commission
Social Security System
POEA
PSC
PVA
PRC
SEC
SSS
Employees Compensation Commission
Government Service Insurance System
Housing Land Use Regulatory Board
Laguna Lake Development Authority
Land Registration Authority
ECC
GSIS
HLURB
LLDA
LRA
Laws
Republic Act
Batas Pambansa
Presidential Decree
Commonwealth Act
Act
Executive Issuances
Executive Order
Administrative Order
Letter of Instruction
R.A.
B.P.
P.D.
C.A.
Act
E.O.
A.O.
LOI
Bills, Resolutions and Committee Reports
Senate or House Bill
S. No.
H. No.
Senate or House Resolution
S. Res.
H. Res.
Senate or House of Representatives Concurrent Resolutions
S. Con Res.
Senate or House or Representatives Joint Resolution
S. J. Res.
Senate or House Committee Reports
H. Rpt.
Resolution of both Houses when sitting together but voting separately
S. Rpt.
R.B.H.
Philippine Reports
Philippine Reports
Phil.
Supreme Court Reports Annotated
SCRA
Supreme Court Advance Decisions
SCAD
Court of Appeals Reports Annotated
CARA
NITAFANS Supreme Court Unpublished Decisions
SCUD
PHILIPPINE LEGAL
PERIODICALS
Ateneo Law Journal
ATENEO L.J.
Baguio Colleges Foundation Law Journal
B.C.F.L. J.
Commission on Audit Journal
C.O.A.J.
Court Systems Journal
Ct. Systems J.
Diplomats Review
DIPLOMATS REV.
Far Eastern Law Review
FAR EAST. L. REV.
Filipino Lawyer
FILIPINO LAW
Foreign Relations Journal
FOR. REL. J.
Foundation Law Review
FOUNDATION L. REV.
Francisco College Law Journal
FRANCISCO C.L.J.
Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Philippines J.C.C. PHIL.
Journal of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
J. INTEG. BAR PHIL.
Judges Journal
JUDGES J.
Jurisprudence
JUR.
Labor Review
LAB. REV.
Law Journal and Magazine of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
IBP L.J. & Mag.
Lawyers Review
LAW. REV.
Lyceum of the Philippines Law Review
LY. PHIL. L. REV.
M.L.Q. University Law Quarterly
Mindanao Law Journal
Monthly Business & Tax Bulletin
PHILCONSA Journal
Philippine Journal of Industrial Relations
Philippine Journal of Librarians
Philippine Journal of Public Administration
Philippine Labor Relations Journal
Philippine Law Gazette
Philippine Law Journal
Philippine Law Report
Philippine Yearbook of International Law
Philippines Judicial Weekly
San Beda Law Journal
S.E.C. Bulletin
Silliman Law Journal
Studies on Philippine Labor
Tala Industrial Relations Bulletin
Tax Monthly
University of San Carlos Law Review
University of Santo Tomas Law Review
University of the East Law Journal
University of Manila Law Gazette
World Bulletin
MLQU L.Q.
MINDANAO L.J.
MON. BUS & TAX BULL
PHILCONSA J.
PHIL J. INDUS. REL.
P.J.L.L.
PHIL. J. PUB. ADM.
PHIL. LAB. REL. J.
PHIL. L. GAZ.
PHIL. L.J.
PHIL L. REP.
PHIL. YRBK. INTL. L.
PHIL. JUD. WEEK.
SAN BEDA L.J.
S.E.C. BULL.
SILLIMAN L.J.
STUD. PHIL. LAB.
TALA INDUS. REL. BULL.
TAX MON.
U.S.C. L. REV.
U.S.T. L. REV.
U.E.L.J.
U.M. L. GAZ.
WORLD BULL.
SPACING AND
PERIODS
SPACING BETWEEN
ABBREVIATED WORDS
Principle 1: Successive words abbreviated
with a single capital letter are normally not
separated from one another with a space.
Principle 2: Longer abbreviations are
separated from one another and from single
letter abbreviations with a space.
SPACING BETWEEN
ABBREVIATED WORDS
Principle 3: In journal titles, successive single
letters that refer to an entity are separated from
other single letter abbreviations with a space.
Principle 4: Numbers, including ordinal
numbers (2d, 4th), are treated as single letters.
PERIODS IN ABBREVATIONS
Principle 1: In general abbreviations should end in a period.
Principle 2: However, abbreviations that are contractions ending
with an apostrophe and the last letter of the word should not be
followed by a period.
Principle 3: In addition, entities that are commonly referred to by
their initials may be abbreviated using those initials without
periods.
REFERENCES
http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/
INTRODUCTION TO BASIC LEGAL CITATION by PETER W. MARTIN
http://www.legalbluebook.com/
THE BLUEBOOK: A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CITATION. 15th Edition
http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/guides/bluebook1_7.cfm
GEORGETOWN LAW LIBRARY
PHILIPPINE MANUAL OF LEGAL CITATIONS BY CORTES,
MAGALLONA, AND FELICIANO
