Answered By: Kate Britt
Last Updated: Sep 02, 2020     Views: 155

For decisions since 1875, citations to the United States Reports (volumes 91-date) follow the now-standard citation: [vol] U.S. [pg] (year).

For decisions before 1875, citations include the U.S. Reports editor's last name and the volume number relative to that editor. The citation is [vol] U.S. (# ed.) [pg] (year)

For example:

  • Johnson v. M'Intosh, 21 U.S. (8 Wheat.) 543 (1823)
    • 21st volume of U.S. Reports.
    • Henry Wheaton was the editor of this volume.
    • This was the 8th volume of which Henry Wheaton was the editor.
    • Case starts on page 543.

U.S. Reports years and volumes, aligned with its first seven editors, are as follows:

 

Years U.S. Reports volumes Name of Editor Volume Citations
1790-1800    1-4 Alexander J. Dallas (1-4 Dallas)
1801-1815 5-13 William Cranch (1-9 Cranch)
1816-1827 14-25 Henry Wheaton (1-12 Wheat.)
1828-1842 26-41 Richard Peters (1-16 Pet.)
1843-1860 42-65 Benjamin Chew Howard  (1-24 How.)
1861-1862 66-67 Jeremiah Sullivan Black (1-2 Black)
1863-1874 68-90 John William Wallace (1-23 Wall.)

 

In the Twentieth Edition of the Bluebook, Table T1.1 regards preferable citations to Supreme Court reporters.

 

See also Dates of Supreme Court decisions : United States reports, volumes 2-107 , August term 1791-October term, 1882 (Ref Coll KF101.6 .A86 1997)

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