A parallel citation occurs when a court case is documented in multiple books, providing different versions of the same story. For instance, instead of solely stating “Morgan v. United States, 304 U.S. 1 (1938),” one could also mention “Morgan v. United States, 304 U.S. 1, 58 S.Ct. 773, 82 L.Ed. 1129 (1938).” This facilitates locating the case in various sources.
A parallel citation is an extra reference to a legal precedent or authority that has been published in multiple reporters. It is commonly used to offer multiple sources for a case. For instance, in a legal citation, a parallel citation would appear as follows: “Morgan v. United States, 304 U. S. 1, 58 S. Ct. 773, 82 L. Ed. 1129 (1938).” The primary citation is to the U. S. Reports, and the parallel citations are to the Supreme Court Reporter and to the Lawyer’s Edition. This example demonstrates how a parallel citation provides additional sources for a legal precedent. In this instance, the same case has been reported in multiple reporters, and the parallel citation gives the reader the option to look up the case in any of the three reporters.
Parallel citation refers to the practice of including multiple citations to the same legal case in different legal publications. It allows readers to easily locate the case in various sources.
Parallel citation is important because different legal publications may have different citation formats or may be more commonly used in certain jurisdictions. Including parallel citations ensures that the case can be easily found and referenced by legal professionals.
Parallel citations are typically formatted by listing the primary citation first, followed by additional citations in parentheses. For example, “Smith v. Jones, 123 U.S. 456 (2019) (also reported in 456 F.3d 789).”
Parallel citations are not always required, but they are highly recommended to ensure accessibility and accuracy in legal research and writing.
While you can use any legal publication as a parallel citation, it is generally recommended to use reputable and widely recognized sources, such as official reporters or well-established legal journals.
Including parallel citations in every legal document is not mandatory, but it is considered good practice to enhance the credibility and accessibility of your work.
If you only use one legal publication, you can omit parallel citations. However, it is still advisable to include the primary citation to ensure clarity and accuracy.
To find parallel citations for a specific case, you can use legal research databases, such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, which provide comprehensive information on case citations across multiple publications.
Parallel citations may vary depending on the jurisdiction and the legal publications commonly used in that jurisdiction. It is important to consult the specific citation rules and practices of the relevant jurisdiction.
Parallel citations are primarily used for legal sources, such as court cases or statutes. They are not typically used for non-legal sources, such as books or articles, as these sources are usually cited using standard bibliographic formats.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 16th April 2024.
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