Bluebook Guide: Whitepages Special Citations

Rule 15.8 provides specific directions for special citation forms.  This rule covers frequently cited legal works or other well-known works.

The Bluebook appears to have a lone reference to the Declaration of Independence in Rule 3.3, p. 76 as set forth on this page.

According to The Bluebook, some specific frequently cited works require special citation forms.  Special attention should be paid to the typeface for these citations.

• Noscitur a sociis, Ballentine's Law Dictionary (3d ed. 1969).
• Good-Faith Bargaining, Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).
• 88 C.J.S. Trial § 192 (1955).
• 17 Am. Jur. 2d Contracts § 74 (1964).

Some well-known works use a citation convention referred to as a star page.  Here, the pages of the original edition are indicated by an asterisk (*), in either the margin or the text of all recent editions.  For legal writing, this method is used for Blackstone's Commentaries.  In this case, the date and edition will be omitted, and the citation may be made to the star page (unless the material cited was inserted by the editor of the cited edition).  No space will be between the asterisk and the page number. 

2 William Blackstone, Commentaries *152, *155–56.

The Bluebook provides specific directions for citing the following works.

The Federalist

• When citing an entire paper, the citation will include the author's name parenthetically and will not indicate a specific edition: The Federalist No. 23 (Alexander Hamilton).
• Papers written by the same author will be grouped together: The Federalist Nos. 23, 78 (Alexander Hamilton), Nos. 10, 51 (James Madison).
• To cite specific material in a paper, list the usual publication information for the edition cited:  The Federalist No. 5, at 53 (John Jay) (Clinton Rossiter ed., 1961).

Manual for Complex Litigation

If prepared by the Federal Judicial Center:

• Manual for Complex Litigation (Third) § 33.2 (1995).
• Manual for Complex Litigation § 2.10 (5th ed. 1982).

If not prepared by the Federal Judicial Center:

• Manual for Complex Litigation § 4.52 (1982) (supplement to Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure (1969–1985)).

The Bible

• Generally, Cite the Bible as follows:  2 Kings 12:19.
• If relevant, the version may be indicated parenthetically:  Mark 9:21 (King James).

Shakespeare

• Shakespearean plays will be cited in large and small caps and by act, scene, and line number.
• The date or edition will not be indicated unless a particular matter is being quoted.
• William Shakespeare, Henry V, act 4, sc. 3, I. 65. 
• William Shakespeare, Henry VI, act IV, Part II, sc. 2, l. 73 (“The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.”).

The Bluebook

• The Bluebook:  A Uniform System of Citation R. 15.8(c)(v), at 154 (Columbia L. Rev. Ass'n et al. eds., 21st ed. 2020).
• The Bluebook:  A Uniform System of Citation 293 tbl.T.10 (Columbia L. Rev. Ass'n et al. eds., 16th ed. 9th prtg. 1999).

The Declaration of Independence para. 2 (U.S. 1776).