Legal Definitions - bluebooking

Bluebooking refers to the meticulous process of reviewing and editing legal citations to ensure they strictly conform to the detailed rules set forth in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

The Bluebook is the authoritative style guide that dictates how legal documents—such as court filings, law review articles, and academic papers—are cited in the United States. Therefore, "bluebooking" is the act of applying these specific formatting and content rules to citations of cases, statutes, books, articles, and other legal sources.

Here are some examples illustrating bluebooking:

• Example 1: Law Student Writing a Research Paper
  A law student, preparing a lengthy research paper for a seminar, has gathered numerous sources including federal court opinions, state statutes, and scholarly articles. Before submitting the paper, she carefully goes through each footnote and parenthetical citation, checking that the case names are italicized correctly, the volume and page numbers for reporters are precisely formatted, and the dates of statutes are included as required by The Bluebook. This thorough review and correction of her citations is an act of bluebooking.

• Example 2: Paralegal Preparing a Court Brief
  A paralegal is assisting an attorney in drafting a legal brief to be filed with an appellate court. The brief references several prior court decisions and specific sections of federal regulations. The paralegal's task includes meticulously verifying that every citation within the brief—from the proper abbreviation of reporter names to the correct use of pinpoint citations (specific page numbers)—adheres to the exact standards mandated by The Bluebook. This detailed checking and adjustment of citations is a critical part of the bluebooking process to ensure the brief's professional presentation.

• Example 3: Legal Journal Editor Reviewing an Article
  An editor for a prestigious university law review receives an article from a legal scholar. Before the article can be published, the editor must ensure that all citations to legal authority—including constitutional provisions, treaties, and other law review articles—are perfectly formatted. The editor spends hours cross-referencing each citation against the specific rules in The Bluebook, correcting any discrepancies in spacing, punctuation, or abbreviation. This comprehensive verification and standardization of citations is a core responsibility of bluebooking for legal publications.