Legal Definitions - citeable

Citeable refers to information, documents, or legal precedents that can be formally referenced or used as authoritative support in a legal argument, brief, or court proceeding. When something is citeable, it means it carries enough weight or official status to be presented as a basis for a legal claim or interpretation.

• Example 1: A Published Court Decision

  Imagine a lawyer arguing a case about contract disputes. They might refer to a previous ruling by a higher court in a similar case, such as Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 456 (9th Cir. 2020). This specific court decision, published in an official reporter, is citeable. The lawyer can formally present it to the judge as a binding or persuasive precedent, meaning the current court should consider or follow the legal principles established in that earlier case.

• Example 2: A Specific Section of a Statute

  A prosecutor is building a case against someone accused of theft. They would refer to a particular law, for instance, "California Penal Code Section 484," which defines theft and its penalties. This specific section of the penal code is citeable because it is an official, enacted law. The prosecutor can directly quote or reference this statute to explain to the court what elements of the crime must be proven and what legal authority supports their charges.

• Example 3: A Reputable Legal Scholarly Article

  In a complex environmental law case, a lawyer might want to introduce a novel interpretation of a regulation. While not binding like a statute or a court precedent, a highly respected article published in a prominent law review, such as "The Future of Clean Air Act Enforcement" by Professor Jane Doe in the Harvard Environmental Law Review, could be citeable. The lawyer could reference this article to support their argument, demonstrating that their interpretation is supported by leading academic thought or expert analysis, thereby adding persuasive weight to their position, even if it's not a direct legal authority.