How to cite legal references in APA (5th ed.) style
See section D.03, pp. 399-400

1. Citing a case in the text of a paper

The concept of First via the Fourteenth refers to the fact that a state cannot abridge freedoms that are guaranteed by the federal constitution (Gitlow v. New York, 1925).

The principle of First via the Fourteenth was established in Gitlow v. New York (1925).

2. Using a quotation from an opinion in the text of a paper

In discussing pure speech and speech plus, Justice Brennan wrote, "The government generally has a freer hand in restricting expressive conduct than it has in restricting the written or spoken word" (Texas v. Johnson, 1989, p. 406).

In his opinion in Texas v. Johnson (1989), Justice Brennan wrote, "The government generally has a freer hand in restricting expressive conduct than it has in restricting the written or spoken word" (p. 406).

3. In the text of the paper, names of court cases are italicized, but dates and page citations are not italicized.
See examples in #2 above

4. In the references, names of court cases are not italicized nor is any part of the citation italicized.
Sample of a court case listed in references:
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989).

April 2002