This page will show you how to use Citrus to automatically generate correct Bluebook statutory citations in your legal documents.

United States Code

Begin by starting Microsoft Word 2003 or Word 2007 on a blank document. Then type this opening sentence:

Union members are not responsible for monetary judgments against the union.

Now cite the statement to a legal authority. Whenever you enter a citation, use the F2 key to mark it. For this example, press F2, then the following citation, then F2 again.

F2 Labor Management Relations Act 301(a) 29 USC 185(a) (2000). F2

When you press F2 a second time to indicate the end of the citation, Citrus will add punctuation and section symbols as required by Bluebook rules and automatically generate this citation:

Labor Management Relations Act § 301(a), 29 U.S.C. § 185(a) (2000).

If you enter a legal citation but forget to press F2, you can still have Citrus manage the citation. Simply use your mouse or keyboard to highlight the citation, then press F2. Try entering the following sentence into your document now:

Student athletes who contract with athlete agents must promptly notify their athletic director of the contract. The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, 15 USC § 7801-7802 (2000).

Highlight "The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, 15 USC § 7801-7802 (2000)" and press F2. Citrus will automatically generate the following citation:

Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 7801-7802 (2000).


Citrus can use both the U.S.C. and I.R.C. form of 26 U.S.C. Enter this:

'Ordinary' gains or losses cannot include capital gains or losses. irc 64-65 (2000).

After you use F2 to mark the citation, Citrus will generate the following citation in correct Bluebook format:

'Ordinary' gains or losses cannot include capital gains or losses. I.R.C. §§ 64-65 (2000).

Secondary Sources - USCA and USCS

Citrus also supports citations to common secondary legal sources. Try entering this:

The Wiretap Act provides for private right of action.F2 18 USCS 2520 (2005).F2

Citrus will automatically generate the following citation:

The Wiretap Act provides for private right of action. 18 U.S.C.S. § 2520 (LexisNexis 2005).

Citrus will correct common errors in statutory citations. As you can see from the preceding example, it will apply Bluebook rules to add the publisher of the source and section symbols (§) as well as convert USCS to U.S.C.S. The example below shows Citrus correcting wrong information supplied by the writer. Type the sentence and citation given below.

'Ordinary' gains or losses cannot include capital gains or losses. 26usca§64-65 (2005 LexisNexis supp i 2006).

After you use F2 to mark the citation, Citrus will automatically generate the following:

'Ordinary' gains or losses cannot include capital gains or losses. 26 U.S.C.A. §§ 64-65 (West 2005 & Supp. I 2006)

Citrus will change USCA to U.S.C.A.; correct the use of the single section symbol because the cite refers to multiple sections; add the correct publisher before the year of publication; and delete the publisher name before the supplement number.

Session Laws

Citrus can also handle citations to pre-1957 and 1957-present session laws. Try this example of a citation to pre-1957 session laws:

Congress did not intend the bridge to be operated for profit. Act of June 15, 1933, ch 86, 48 stat 152.

After you use F2 to mark the cite, Citrus will automatically generate the following citation:

Congress did not intend the bridge to be operated for profit. Act of June 15, 1933, ch. 86, 48 Stat. 152.

To see an example of Citrus working with a post-1956 session law, enter the following example:

Congress authorized, but did not require, the sale of the Blyth Arena. Act of may 24 1982 pl 97-179 96 Stat 90

The attentive reader will detect here a continuation of a pattern and will not be surprised to see that judicious application of the F2 key prompts Citrus to once again bring honor to its creators by generating the following Bluebook-perfect legal citation:

Congress authorized, but did not require, the sale of the Blyth Arena. Act of May 24, 1982, Pub. L. No. 97-179, 96 Stat. 90.



Click here to see a brief demonstration of Citrus legal citation software automatically managing legal citations.