Are case names italicized in Bluebook citations?

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In Bluebook citations, the case name is italicized. This typographic choice signals that the author is referring to a legal authority (a case) rather than a regular text element, and it helps readers distinguish the name of the case from the reporter details that follow. When you cite a court decision, you typically present the case name as a single italicized unit, then the reporter, volume, page, and year in parentheses. For example, Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) shows the case name in italics while the rest of the citation remains in regular type.

The same rule extends to the titles of standalone works, which are also italicized to indicate they are complete, self-contained works (like books or monographs). This consistent use of italics for case names and standalone titles helps readers quickly identify the kind of source you’re citing and preserves clarity in the citation.

So, the best answer is that yes; case names (and titles of standalone works) are italicized in Bluebook citations.