Citation Guidelines

Guidelines for citation to the opinions of the Arkansas Supreme Court & Arkansas Court of Appeals:

Opinions issued on or after February 14, 2009, will be cited in accordance with revised Rule 5-2 of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Arkansas Court of Appeals. The following are illustrations of the proper citation format for the opinions delivered by the supreme court and court of appeals since February 14, 2009.*

 

Published Opinions of the Arkansas Supreme Court

 

When regional reporter citation is available:

Kelly v. Estate of Edwards, 2009 Ark. 78, at 2, 301 S.W.3d 156, 157. [with pinpoint citation]

Kelly v. Estate of Edwards, 2009 Ark. 78, 301 S.W.3d 156. [without pinpoint citation]

When regional reporter citation is not available:

Foscue v. McDaniel, 2009 Ark. 223. [without parallel citation to unofficial source]

Foscue v. McDaniel, 2009 Ark. 223, 2009 WL 1098545. [with parallel citation to unofficial source]

 

Unpublished Opinions of the Arkansas Supreme Court

 

•Rule 5-2 should be consulted for guidance as to when unpublished opinions may be cited.
•Parallel citations to unofficial sources, including unofficial electronic databases, may be provided.

Johnson v. State, 2009 Ark. 83, at 1 (unpublished). [with pinpoint citation]

Johnson v. State, 2009 Ark. 83 (unpublished). [without pinpoint citation]

Johnson v. State, 2009 Ark. 83, at 1, 2009 WL 416474, at *1 (unpublished). [with parallel citation and pinpoint citation]

 

Published Opinions of the Arkansas Court of Appeals

 

When regional reporter citation is available:

Burkett v. Exxon Tiger Mart, Inc., 2009 Ark. App. 93, at 2, 301 S.W.3d 495, 496. [with pinpoint citation]

Burkett v. Exxon Tiger Mart, Inc., 2009 Ark. App. 93, 301 S.W.3d 495. [without pinpoint citation]

When regional reporter citation is not available:

Nestle USA, Inc. v. Drone, 2009 Ark. App. 311. [without parallel citation to unofficial source]

Nestle USA, Inc. v. Drone, 2009 Ark. App. 311, 2009 WL 1076781. [with parallel citation to unofficial source]

 

Unpublished Opinions of the Arkansas Court of Appeals

 

•Rule 5-2 should be consulted for guidance as to when unpublished opinions may be cited.
•Parallel citations to unofficial sources, including unofficial electronic databases, may be provided.

Gillespie v. Gillespie, 2009 Ark. App. 95, at 1 (unpublished). [with pinpoint citation]

Gillespie v. Gillespie, 2009 Ark. App. 95 (unpublished). [without pinpoint citation]

Gillespie v. Gillespie, 2009 Ark. App. 95, at 1, 2009 WL 398215, at *1 (unpublished). [with parallel citation and pinpoint citation]

 

*Until official citations are inserted into the opinions issued after February 14, 2009, the official citation for each opinion issued after February 14, may be found in these tables:Supreme Court / Court of Appeals