How do you cite a state statute (e.g., California)?

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Citing a state statute correctly needs a concise format that identifies the jurisdiction, the code, the section, and the edition. For California, that means using the abbreviation Cal., the Civil Code as Civ. Code, the section symbol followed by the number, and then the edition in parentheses. The best form is Cal. Civ. Code § 51 (West 2018). This keeps Cal. with a period, uses the full code name Civ. Code, places the section symbol and number in the normal spot, and includes the edition note inside parentheses to show which compilation you’re referencing. The other formats miss a standard element or its placement: omitting the period after Cal. is nonstandard, and appending West after the year (instead of inside parentheses) breaks the conventional Bluebook punctuation. The first option is not a citation at all but a description of what you should include.