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Bluebook Citation Guide

North Eastern Reporter Citations (N.E., N.E.2d, N.E.3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio.

Overview

The North Eastern Reporter is a West regional reporter that publishes state court decisions from Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. The series has progressed through three iterations: N.E. (1885--1936), N.E.2d (1936--2011), and N.E.3d (2011--present).

This reporter covers some of the most influential state courts in the country. The New York Court of Appeals and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court have been particularly prolific in shaping American common law. New York decisions may also appear in the New York Supplement (N.Y.S.), and practitioners should check which reporter is appropriate for their citation context.

Illinois, another high-volume jurisdiction in this reporter, has a three-tier court system with the Supreme Court of Illinois at the top. Ohio generates substantial appellate volume as well. As with all regional reporters, always include the state and court abbreviation in the date parenthetical to identify the deciding court.

Formatting Rules

  • Include the state and court abbreviation in the date parenthetical, e.g., (N.Y. 1928) or (Ill. App. Ct. 2020).
  • Use the correct series based on the decision date: N.E. (1885--1936), N.E.2d (1936--2011), N.E.3d (2011--present).
  • New York's highest court is the Court of Appeals, cited as (N.Y. [year]) — do not confuse with the trial-level Supreme Court.
  • Massachusetts' highest court is the Supreme Judicial Court, cited as (Mass. [year]).
  • For Illinois intermediate appellate courts, use (Ill. App. Ct. [year]) with the district if required by local convention.
  • Ohio is abbreviated "Ohio" (not "Oh.") in court parentheticals per Bluebook Table T1.

Examples

New York Court of Appeals

Palsgraf v. Long Island R.R. Co., 162 N.E. 99 (N.Y. 1928)

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Commonwealth v. Carter, 115 N.E.3d 559 (Mass. 2019)

Illinois Supreme Court

Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 659 N.E.2d 1322 (Ill. 1995)

Ohio Supreme Court

State v. Telfair, 796 N.E.2d 531 (Ohio 2003)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states are covered by the North Eastern Reporter?

The North Eastern Reporter covers Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio.

How do I cite New York Court of Appeals cases?

Cite the Court of Appeals (New York's highest court) with just (N.Y. [year]) in the parenthetical. In law review footnotes, cite to N.E.2d or N.E.3d. In New York state court filings, local rules require the official N.Y.2d or N.Y.3d reporter citation.

When did the North Eastern Reporter switch from N.E.2d to N.E.3d?

The transition from N.E.2d to N.E.3d occurred in 2011. Cases decided before that date should be cited to N.E.2d.

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Format citations for state court decisions from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

South Western Reporter Citations (S.W., S.W.2d, S.W.3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.

North Western Reporter Citations (N.W., N.W.2d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

South Eastern Reporter Citations (S.E., S.E.2d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Southern Reporter Citations (So., So. 2d, So. 3d)

Format citations for state court decisions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

New York Supplement Citations (N.Y.S., N.Y.S.2d, N.Y.S.3d)

Format citations for decisions from all levels of the New York state court system, including the Court of Appeals, Appellate Division, and Supreme Court.

California Reporter Citations (Cal. Rptr., Cal. Rptr. 2d, Cal. Rptr. 3d)

Format citations for California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court decisions published in the California Reporter series.

Disclaimer: While this guide follows Bluebook 21st edition rules, always verify citations with official Bluebook resources or your institution's requirements. This content is for educational assistance only.