1.   CAPITALIZATION

     The following are capitalization rules for words frequently used in legal writing. This list is not exclusive. For further reference, consult Bluebook Rule 8, the Government Publishing Office Style Manual, or The Gregg Reference Manual.

1.1   Particular Persons, Places, or Things

     Capitalize proper nouns and words that designate a particular person, place, or thing:

► the Chief Justice wrote …

         ► The Florida Bar

         ► Congress

         ► the Constitution

         ► the Board of Bar Examiners … the Board

         ► the Civil Rights Act … the Act

         ► the House of Representatives …. the House

         ► the Social Security Administrator … the Administrator

         ► United States Supreme Court Justices

1.2   Headings and Titles

     Capitalize all words except articles, conjunctions, or prepositions with four or fewer letters—unless the article, conjunction, or preposition is the first word in the title or the word immediately following a colon.

     Legal Documents:

► Daniel B. Rodriquez, Regulatory Incrementalism and Moral Choices: A Comment on Adlerian
Welfarism, 28 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 375 (2000).
► Raoul Berger, Government by Judiciary (2d ed. 1997).

     Scholarly Works:

► Daniel B. Rodriquez, Regulatory Incrementalism and Moral Choices: A Comment on Adlerian
Welfarism, 28 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 375 (2000).

1.3   Acts, Laws, Bills, Treaties, Constitutions

     Capitalize acts, laws, bills, and treaties only when referring to a specific act, law, bill, or treaty:

►   Civil Rights Act of 1964

►   House Bill 281

►   Public Law 480                                             

►   Treaty of Versailles

     But:

►   The bill stalled for months in the Senate.

►    The Sunday closing laws were originally efforts to promote church attendance.

     Capitalize legislative sessions:

►   Regular Session

►   Special Session

►   Organizational Session

     Capitalize references to the United States Constitution (or parts thereof) and complete references to any other constitutions:

►   the Due Process Clause

►   Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution

►   the Florida Constitution

►   The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.

     But:

►   article I, section 23 of the Florida Constitution.

►  The court examined an alleged violation of the employee’s constitutional rights.

1.4   Court or court?

     In legal documents, capitalize “court” only when referring to (i) the United States Supreme Court, (ii) the highest court in the jurisdiction in which you are appearing, (iii) the court in which you are appearing, or (iv) any court by its full name or title, or a specific district or circuit court when referenced by its number or title.

► the (United States Supreme) Court was unequivocal—Chevron is overruled

► the Supreme Court of Florida

► the (Florida Supreme) Court ruled that

► the Leon County Court

► the Eleventh Circuit affirmed

► the First District reversed

► this Court accepted jurisdiction under article V, section 3(b)(3) of the Florida Constitution

     But:

► the lower tribunal

► the trial court

► the circuit court

► the district courts are unanimous

     In scholarly works, capitalize “court” only when referring to (i) the United States Supreme Court or (ii) any court by its full name or title, or a specific district or circuit court when referenced by its number or title.

► the (United States Supreme) Court was unequivocal—Chevron is overruled

► the Supreme Court of Florida

► the Leon County Court

► the Eleventh Circuit affirmed

► the First District reversed

     But:

► the (Florida Supreme) court ruled that

► the lower tribunal

► the circuit court

► the trial court

► the district courts are unanimous