Rule 9.800. Uniform Citation System

      This rule applies to all legal documents, including court opinions. Except for citations to case reporters, all citation forms should be spelled out in full if used as an integral part of a sentence either in the text or in footnotes. Abbreviated forms as shown in this rule should be used if the citation is intended to stand alone either in the text or in footnotes.

(a) Florida Supreme Court.

(1) 1887-present: Fenelon v. State, 594 So. 2d 292 (Fla. 1992).

(2) 1846–1886: Livingston v. L’Engle, 22 Fla. 427 (1886).

(3) For cases not published in the Southern Reporter, cite to Florida Law Weekly: Traylor v. State, 17 Fla. L. Weekly S42 (Fla. Jan. 16, 1992). If not therein, cite to the slip opinion: Medina v. State, No. SC00-280 (Fla. Mar. 14, 2002). With a slip opinion cite, citations to Westlaw: Singh v. State, No. SC10-1544, 2014 WL 7463592 (Fla. Dec. 30, 2014), or LEXIS: Johnston v. State, No. SC09-839, 2010 Fla. LEXIS 62 (Fla. Jan. 21, 2010), may also be provided.

(b) Florida District Courts of Appeal.

(1) Buncayo v. Dribin, 533 So. 2d 935 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Sotolongo v. State, 530 So. 2d 514 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988).

(2) For cases not published in Southern Reporter, cite to Florida Law Weekly: Myers v. State, 16 Fla. L. Weekly D1507 (Fla. 4th DCA June 5, 1991). If not therein, cite to the slip opinion: Fleming v. State, No. 1D01-2734 (Fla. 1st DCA Mar. 6, 2002). With a slip opinion cite, citations to Westlaw: Williams v. State, No. 2D14-2438, 2014 WL 3418358 (Fla. 2d DCA June 12, 2014), or LEXIS: Minakan v. Husted, No. 4D09-4439, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 288 (Fla. 4th DCA Jan. 20, 2010), may also be provided.

(c) Florida Circuit Courts and County Courts.

(1) Circuit Court: State v. Ruoff, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 619 (Fla. 17th Cir. Ct. Feb. 13, 2010)

(2) County Court: Gables Ins. Recovery v. Progressive Am. Ins. Co., 22 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 637 (Miami-Dade Cty. Ct. Oct. 8, 2014).

(3) For cases not published in Florida Law Weekly Supplement, cite to Florida Supplement or Florida Supplement Second: Whidden v. Francis, 27 Fla. Supp. 80 (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. 1966). If not therein, cite to Florida Law Weekly: State v. Cahill, 16 Fla. L. Weekly C41 (Fla. 19th Cir. Ct. Mar. 5, 1991). If not therein, cite to the slip opinion: Jones v. City of Ocoee, No. CVAI-93-18 (Fla. 9th Cir. Ct. Dec. 9, 1996).  With a slip opinion cite, citations to Westlaw: Berne v. State, No. 2006-CA-9772-O, 2009 WL 8626616 (Fla. 9th Cir. Ct. Oct. 26, 2009), or LEXIS: Alberti v. Gangell, No. 51-2008-CA-0198-WS/H, 2014 Fla. Cir. LEXIS 55 (Fla. 6th Cir. Ct. Apr. 16, 2014), may also be provided.

(d) Florida Administrative Agencies.

(1) For agency final orders: Dep’t of Health v. Migicovsky, No. 2011-16915 (Fla. Bd. of Med. Dec. 17, 2012) (Final Order No. DOH-12-2692-FOF-MQA).

(2) For decisions of Division of Administrative Hearings: Dep’t of Fin. Servs., Div. of Ins. Agent & Agency Servs. v. Pearson, No. 13-4478PL (Fla. DOAH Oct. 15, 2014) (Recommended Order).

(3) To cite a case’s subsequent history at the agency and in the courts: Dep’t of Health v. Sabates, No. 10-9430PL (Fla. DOAH June 23, 2011) (Recommended Order), adopted with reduced penalty, No. 2009-06686 (Fla. Bd. of Med. Aug. 29, 2011) (Final Order No. DOH-11-2101-FOF-MQA), aff’d in part and rev’d in part, 104 So. 3d 1227 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012).

(4) Decisions that are not available online may be cited to an administrative law reporter as follows if published therein:

(A) Florida Administrative Law Reports: Dep’t of Health v. Sabates, 34 F.A.L.R. 2378 (Fla. Bd. of Med. 2011);

(B) Florida Career Service Reporter: Arenas v. Dep’t of Corr., 25 F.C.S.R. 309 (Fla. Pub. Emp. Rel. Comm’n 2010);

(C) Environmental and Land Use Administrative Law Reporter: In re Riverview Pointe, Manatee Cty., 2013 E.R. F.A.L.R. 50 at 2 (Fla. Dep’t of Envtl. Prot. 2012);

(D) Florida Department of Revenue Tax Reporter: Technical Ass’t Advm’t 09A-049, 2009 Tax F.A.L.R. 431 (Fla. Dep’t of Rev. 2009);

(E) Florida Public Employee Reporter: Delgado v. Sch. Dist. of Broward Cty., 36 F.P.E.R. 207 (Fla. Pub. Emp. Rel. Comm’n Gen. Counsel 2010;

(F) Florida Public Service Commission Reporter: In re Nuclear Cost Recovery Clause, 2013 F.P.S.C. 10:149 (Fla. Pub. Serv. Comm’n 2013;

(G) Florida Compensation Reports: Whitney v. Mercy Hosp., 9 F.C.R. 373 (Fla. Indus. Rel. Comm’n 1976);

(H) Florida Division of Administrative Hearings Reports: Fla. Real Estate Comm’n v. Warrington, 39 F.D.O.A.H. 747 (Fla. Real Estate Comm’n 1977);

(I) Florida Administrative Reporter: Cockrell v. Comptroller, 12 F.A.R. 192 (Fla. Comptroller 1979).

(5) For orders that are not posted on the Division of Administrative Hearings’ website or reported in one of the above reporters: In re Town of Inglis Petition for Waiver, Final Order No. 07-0590 (Fla. DEP Apr. 12, 2007) (available from the agency clerk).

(e) Florida Constitution. When citing a provision that has been repealed, superseded, or amended, provide the year of adoption of the provision or the version thereof being cited.

(1) Current provision: Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const.

(2) Historical provision: Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const. (1972).

(f) Florida Statutes.

(1) § 48.031, Fla. Stat. (2014).

(2) § 120.54, Fla. Stat. (Supp. 1998).

(g) Florida Statutes Annotated. When citing material other than a section of Florida Statutes, provide page numbers.

7 Fla. Stat. Ann. § 95.11 (2017).

30 Fla. Stat. Ann. 69-70 (2004).

(h) Florida Administrative Code. When citing an administrative rule that has been repealed, superseded, or amended, provide the year of adoption of the provision or the version thereof being cited.</p?

Fla. Admin. Code R. 62D-2.014.

Fla. Admin. Code R. 62D-2.014 (2003).

(i) Florida Laws.

(1) After 1956: Ch. 74-177, § 5, Laws of Fla.

(2) Before 1957: Ch. 22000, Laws of Fla. (1943).

(j) Florida Rules. When citing a rule that has been repealed, superseded, or amended, provide the year of adoption of the rule or the version thereof being cited.

(1) Florida Rules of Civil Procedure:  Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.180.

(2) Florida Rules of Civil Procedure for Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators:  Fla. R. Civ. P.–S.V.P. 4.010.

(3) Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration: Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.110.

(4) Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure: Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.850.

(5) Florida Probate Rules:  Fla. Prob. R. 5.120.

(6) Florida Rules of Traffic Court: Fla. R. Traf. Ct. 6.165.

(7) Florida Small Claims Rules: Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.070.

(8) Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure: Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.070.

(9) Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure: Fla. R. App. P. 9.100.

(10) Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators: Fla. R. Med. 10.100.

(11) Florida Rules for Court-Appointed Arbitrators: Fla. R. Arb. 11.010.

(12) Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure: Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.010.

(13) Rules Regulating the Florida Bar: R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-1.10.

(14) Code of Judicial Conduct: Fla. Code Jud. Conduct, Canon 4B.

(15) Florida Bar Foundation Bylaws: Fla. Bar Found. Bylaws, art. 2.19(b).

(16) Florida Bar Foundation Charter: Fla. Bar Found. Charter, art. III, § 3.4.

(17) Integration Rule of the Florida Bar: Fla. Bar Integr. R., art. XI, §11.09 (1981).

(18) Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission Rules: Fla. Jud. Qual. Comm’n R. 9.

(19) Florida Standard Jury Instructions, Civil: Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Civ.) 601.4.

(20) Florida Standard Jury Instructions, Contract and Business: Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Cont. & Bus.) 416.12.

(21) Florida Standard Jury Instructions, Criminal: Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Crim.) 3.7.

(22) Florida Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions: Fla. Stds. Imposing Law. Sancs. 9.32(a).

(23) Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar: Fla. Bar Admiss. R. 3-23.1.

(k) Florida Attorney General Opinions.

Op. Att’y Gen. Fla. 73-178 (1973).

(l) United States Supreme Court.

(1) Sansone v. United States, 380 U.S. 343 (1965).

(2) Cite to United States Reports, if published therein; otherwise cite to Supreme Court Reporter. For cases not published in these reporters, cite to Florida Law Weekly Federal: California v. Hodari D., 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S249 (U.S. Apr. 23, 1991).  If not therein, cite to the slip opinion: Upper Skagit Indian Tribe v. Lundgren, No. 17-387 (U.S. May 21, 2018). With a slip opinion cite, citations to Westlaw: Upper Skagit Indian Tribe v. Lundgren, No. 17-387, 2018 WL 2292445 (U.S. May 21, 2018), or LEXIS: Upper Skagit Indian Tribe v. Lundgren, No. 17-387, 2018 U.S. LEXIS 3085 (U.S. May 21, 2018), may also be provided.

(m) Federal Courts of Appeals.

(1) Gulf Oil Corp. v. Bivins, 276 F.2d 753 (5th Cir. 1960).

(2) For cases not published in the Federal Reporter, cite to Florida Law Weekly Federal: Cunningham v. Zant, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. C591 (11th Cir. March 27, 1991). If not therein, cite to Federal Appendix: Evans v. McDonald, 313 F. App’x 256 (11th Cir. 2009). If not therein, cite to the slip opinion: Airtran Airways, Inc. v. Elem, No. 13-14912 (11th Cir. Sept. 23, 2014). With a slip opinion cite, citations to Westlaw: Murphy v. Dulay, No. 13-14637, 2014 WL 5072710 (11th Cir. Oct. 10, 2014), or LEXIS: Murphy v. Dulay, No. 13-14637, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 19311 (11th Cir. Oct. 10, 2014), may also be provided.

(n) Federal District Courts.

(1) Pugh v. Rainwater, 332 F. Supp. 1107 (S.D. Fla. 1971).

(2) For opinions not published in Federal Supplement, cite to Florida Law Weekly Federal: Wasko v. Dugger, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D183 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 2, 1991).  If not therein, cite to the slip opinion: Slay v. Hess, No. 5:14-cv-264 (N.D. Fla. Oct. 10, 2014). With a slip opinion cite, citations to Westlaw: Taylor v. Bradshaw, No. 11-80911-CIV, 2014 WL 5325291 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 7, 2014), or LEXIS: Taylor v. Bradshaw, No. 11-80911-CIV, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148468 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 7, 2014), may also be provided.

(o) United States Constitution.

(1) Art. IV, § 2, cl. 2, U.S. Const.

(2) Amend. V, U.S. Const.

(p) Other Citations. All other citations shall be in the form prescribed by the latest edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, The Harvard Law Review Association, Gannett House, Cambridge, MA 02138. Citations not covered in this rule or in The Bluebook shall be in the form prescribed by the Florida Style Manual (available at www.law.fsu.edu/lawreview/florida-style-manual) published by the Florida State University Law Review, Tallahassee, FL 32306.

(q) Case Names. Case names shall be underscored or italicized in text and in footnotes.

Committee Notes

      1977 Adoption. This rule is new and is included to standardize appellate practice and ease the burdens on the courts. It is the duty of each litigant and counsel to assist the judicial system by use of these standard forms of citation. Use of these citation forms, however, has not been made mandatory.

      1992 Amendment. Rule 9.800 was updated to reflect changes in the available reporters. Additionally, the citations to new rules have been added and citations to rules no longer in use have been deleted.

      2011 Amendment. Subdivision (d)(3) was revised and subdivisions (d)(4) and (d)(5) were added to reflect changes in how agencies are publishing their decisions. Section 120.53(2)(a), Florida Statutes, was revised in 2008 to allow agencies to electronically transmit their decisions to the Division of Administrative Hearings for posting on the Division’s website in lieu of publishing them in an official reporter. Additionally, recommended and final orders in cases heard by the Division are available on the Division’s website, www.doah.state.fl.us. See § 120.57(1)(m), Fla. Stat. Final orders in cases not heard by the Division or electronically submitted to the Division by an agency for posting on the Division’s website or published in a reporter should be available from the agency that issues the order.

Rules Blog Notes

Current as of In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.800, No. SC17-999, 257 So.3d 91 (Oct. 25, 2018).

Updated with rule changes effective October 28, 2021. See In re Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, Florida Probate Rules, Florida Rules of Traffic Court, Florida Small Claims Rules, Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, 256 So. 3d 1218, 1219, No. SC21-1049 (Fla. Oct. 28, 2021) [.pdf]. For more information about these changes, check out the Florida Appellate Procedure Blog.