Where should the docket number be placed in a federal case citation?

Study for the Bluebook Citation Test. Access comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Docket numbers are identifiers used by courts to track a case, but they aren’t part of the core citation in the standard federal citation form. The place you put the docket number depends on the citation style you’re using. Some styles require including it in the caption (the header on the opinion’s first page), while others allow or require placing it after the year in parentheses in the citation. Because different guides have different rules, the correct approach is to follow the specific style you’re using. That’s why the best answer is to place the docket number in the caption or after the year in parentheses, depending on citation style.