Eckstein Law Library Guide for Marquette Law Students: Basic Legal Citation Abbreviations to Know

Basic Citation Abbreviations to Know

U.S.

United States Reports is the official reporter for U.S. Supreme Court cases.

S. Ct.

Supreme Court Reporter is an unofficial reporter of U.S. Supreme Court cases.

L.Ed. and
L.Ed.2d

Lawyers' Edition — first and second series, is an unofficial reporter of U.S. Supreme Court cases.

U.S.C.

United States Code — the official version of the federal statutory code.

U.S.C.A. and
U.S.C.S.

United States Code Annotated and United States Code Service, two unofficial, annotated versions of the federal statutory code.

C.F.R.

Code of Federal Regulations, the codified subject arrangement of current regulations issued by agencies of the executive branch of the federal government.

F., F.2d., F.3d., and F.4th.

Federal Reporter — first, second, third, and fourth series.  This is the reporter for opinions of the U.S. Courts of Appeals.  Not all of the federal circuit courts' opinions are published.

F. Supp., 
F. Supp. 2d, and F. Supp. 3d   

Federal Supplement — first, second, and third series.  This is the reporter for published opinions of the U.S. district courts, which are trial courts.  Most opinions of the district courts are not published.

Wis. and
Wis. 2d

Wisconsin Reports and Wisconsin Reports 2d Series.  This is the reporter for opinions of the Wisconsin appellate courts (WI Court of Appeals and WI Supreme Court).

N.W. and
N.W.2d

Northwestern Reporter and Northwestern Reporter 2nd Series.  The regional reporter for opinions of the appellate courts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.