CASE CITATION Meaning and
Definition
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A case citation refers to the standardized, formal reference given to a legal case, facilitating its identification and retrieval in legal documents, court records, and legal research. It serves as a brief summary of essential case information required to locate and understand the specific legal decision.
A typical case citation includes various elements: the names of the parties involved or abbreviated titles, usually referred to as the "v." (versus); the volume number, name, or abbreviation of the law report series in which the case is published; the abbreviated name of the court that rendered the decision; the year the decision was made, enclosed in parentheses; and, in some citation styles, additional information like specific page numbers or paragraph numbers within the report.
For example, a general case citation may appear as follows: Smith v. Johnson, 2021 ABC 123 (Supreme Court of Anywhere) 45.
These references offer a concise means to locate and retrieve legal cases for analysis, citation, or further research. They are indispensable in legal academia, court judgments, legal briefs, legal opinions, and scholarly legal articles, as they provide a standardized and precise way to identify and access legal precedents. Case citations allow lawyers, judges, scholars, and researchers to refer to specific judicial decisions, incorporate them into their arguments, recognize the hierarchy or weight of the precedent, and build upon existing legal reasoning.
Etymology of CASE CITATION
The word "case citation" is a compound noun that combines two terms: "case" and "citation".
1. "Case" has its origins in the Latin word "casus", which means "fall" or "event". In legal terminology, a case refers to a legal action or lawsuit. It dates back to the 14th century, derived from the Old French word "cas", which had the same meaning.
2. "Citation" comes from the Latin word "citare", which means "to summon" or "to call". In legal contexts, a citation refers to a reference to a specific legal case or statute. It began to be used in English in the 16th century, borrowed directly from Latin.
Therefore, the etymology of "case citation" can be traced back to the Latin terms "casus" and "citare", indicating the reference or summoning of a legal case.
