NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchMedium
A paralegal is preparing a legal brief for a state appellate court. The brief will cite several cases from the state's highest court, a few from the state's intermediate appellate court, and one from a federal district court within that state. According to the Bluebook, which of the following is the correct order of authority when listing cases in a string citation within a parenthetical?
- AFederal district court, state highest court, state intermediate appellate court
- BState highest court, state intermediate appellate court, federal district court
- CState intermediate appellate court, state highest court, federal district court
- DState highest court, federal district court, state intermediate appellate court
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. State highest court, state intermediate appellate court, federal district court
Bluebook Rule 1.4(d) dictates the order of authorities in a string citation. Within a single jurisdiction, higher courts precede lower courts. Federal authorities are generally cited after state authorities, but within federal courts, higher courts precede lower courts.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This order incorrectly places the federal district court before state courts and reverses the order of state courts.
- C. This order incorrectly places the intermediate state court before the highest state court.
- D. This order incorrectly places the federal district court between state courts of different levels.
Bluebook String Citation Order
The prescribed order for listing multiple authorities within a single citation, following specific rules regarding jurisdiction and court hierarchy.
- Rule 1.4(d) governs order of authorities
- Higher courts precede lower courts within the same jurisdiction
- Federal authorities generally follow state authorities (unless federal law is paramount)
Memory trick: Hierarchy rules: Highest court first, then down the ranks, state before federal.