How to read a California case
For California state court cases follow the rules below (refer to Table 1 under "California" for more details):
Supreme Court (Cal.): Cite to P., P.2d, or P.3d, if available.
Court of Appeal (Cal. Ct. App.): Cite to P. or P.2d (before 1960) or Cal. Rptr. or Cal. Rptr. 2d (after 1959), if available.
Appellate Documents of the Superior Court (Cal. App. Dep't Super. Ct.): Cite to P. or P.2d (before 1960) or Cal. Rptr. or Cal. Rptr. 2d (after 1959), if available.
California Case Reporter Chart
| COURT |
CASE REPORTERS |
ABBREVIATIONS |
CALL NUMBER |
|
California Supreme Court |
|||
| California Reports (official) | Cal., Cal. 2d, Cal. 3d., Cal. 4th | KFC45 A2 | |
| West's California Reporter | Cal. Rptr., Cal. Rptr. 2d, Cal. Rptr. 3d | KFC47 C32 | |
| West's Pacific Reporter | P., P.2d, P.3d | KF 135 P21 | |
|
California Courts of Appeal |
|
|
|
| California Appellate Reports (official) | Cal. App., Cal. App. 2d, Cal. App. 3d, Cal. App. 4th |
KFC48 A2 | |
| West's California Reporter (1959 – present) | Cal. Rptr., Cal. Rptr. 2d, Cal. Rptr. 3d | KFC47 C32 | |
| West's Pacific Reporter (pre-1959) |
P. P.2d, P.3d | KF135 P21 | |
|
|
No published cases at trial level. Ask a reference librarian for help if you want to try to find a trial court decision.
|
|
|
|
California Superior Court, Appellate Department |
|
|
|
| California Appellate Reports Supplement (bound with Cal. App.) (1929-present) | Cal. App. Supp., Cal. App. 2d Supp., Cal. App. 3d Supp., Cal. App. 4th Supp. |
KFC48 A2 | |
| West's California Reporter(1959-present) | Cal. Rptr., Cal. Rptr. 2d, Cal. Rptr. 3d | KFC47 C32 | |
| West's Pacific Reporter (1929-1959) | P. P.2d, P.3d | KF135 P21 |
