1.   CAPITALIZATION

     The following are capitalization rules for words frequently used in legal writing. This list is not exclusive, and reference to Bluebook Rule 8, the Government Printing Office Style Manual, or The Gregg Reference Manual is helpful.

1.1   Particular Persons, Places, or Things

     In addition to proper nouns, capitalize words that designate a particular person, place, or thing:

►   the Chief Justice

►   The Florida Bar

►   Congress

►   the Constitution

►   the Board of Bar Examiners

►   the Civil Rights Act

►   United States Supreme Court Justices

1.2   Headings and Titles

     When referring to a heading or title in legal writing, 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.

►   Norton L. Steuben, The Income Tax Treatment of Interests Acquired from a Ground Lessor, 23 Fʟᴀ. Sᴛ. U. L. Rᴇᴠ. 863 (1996).

►    Daniel B. Rodriquez, Regulatory Incrementalism and Moral Choices: A Comment on Adlerian Welfarism, 28 Fʟᴀ. Sᴛ. U. L. Rᴇᴠ. 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 Senate bill stalled on the calendar for months.

►    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

But:

►   article I, section 23 of the Florida Constitution.

But:

►   The Florida Supreme Court examined an alleged violation of the employee’s constitutional rights.

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

1.4   Government Entities

(a) Government Bodies: Capitalize the names of government bodies.

►   House of Representatives

►   Department of Justice

►   Senate

►   Internal Revenue Service

(1)  Courts Generally: When referring to a court, capitalize according to the following rules:

(a) When referring to the United States Supreme Court:

►   The Court concluded in Roe v. Wade that there is a constitutional right to privacy.

(b) When referring to the full name of any court:

►   the Florida Supreme Court

But: 

►   the supreme court

(c) In legal documents when referring to the court in which the document will be submitted:

►    This Court accepted jurisdiction based on article V, section 3(b)(3) of the Florida Constitution.

(2)   Florida Supreme Court

►    the court

►    the supreme court

►    the Florida Supreme Court

►    the Supreme Court of Florida [the official name]

(3)   Florida District Courts of Appeal

►    the court

►    the district court

►    the Third District Court

►    the Third District Court of Appeal

(4)   Florida Circuit Courts

►    the court

►    the circuit court

►    the Sixteenth Circuit Court

(5)   Florida County Courts

►    the court

►    the county court

►    the Leon County Court