The Bluebook establishes the most commonly used format for legal citations. The California Style Manual provides an alternative citation format for state court. The California Rules of Court bind attorneys practicing in California state court and include a few instructions regarding citations.

The current (fourth) edition of the Manual, published in 2000 by West Group, is freely available online at the Sixth District Appellate Program webpage.

Ibid. is used to refer to an identical citation within a paragraph when no intervening authority has been cited. The signal id. at p. X is used to refer to an earlier citation with a different point page.

For a California statute, give the name of the code and the section number. For example, "Code of Civil Procedure, section 1011" or "Family Code, section 3461." For a federal statute, cite to the United States Code (abbreviated U.S.C.). For example, "28 U.S.C. section 351."