Template:Infobox US Supreme Court case
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If you find yourself confused in how to use this template or need assistance, please feel free to leave comments on the talk page.
Usage
This template aims to standardize U.S. Supreme Court cases. It's a very versatile template that includes features such as: argue dates that are automatically formatted correctly, citations that include a link to the text of the case, and accurate court membership with a much lower chance of error.
For a detailed description of this template's usage, see below. For information about commonly inserted information, refer to this guide. The template is part of WikiProject U.S. Supreme Court cases.
Parameters
Parameter names shown opposite in italics indicate parameters that form external links.
- Optional parameters
- Most parameters in this template are optional. Leaving parameters such as ReargueDate, Concurrence5, or Overruled blank is OK and will not change or alter anything in the template. Parameters such as Majority, JoinMajority, etc. are all optional. Any fields that need to be added can be done so easily – either add the code if you feel comfortable doing so, or contact me and I will add the fields you need.
| Commonly needed | Uncommonly needed |
|---|---|
{{Infobox SCOTUS case
|Litigants=
|ArgueDate=
|ArgueYear=
|DecideDate=
|DecideYear=
|FullName=
|USVol=
|USPage=
|ParallelCitations=
|Docket=XX-XXX
|OralArgument=https://www.oyez.org/cases/YYYY/YY-Docket
|OralReargument=https://www.oyez.org/cases/YYYY/YY-Docket
|OpinionAnnouncement=https://www.oyez.org/cases/YYYY/YY-Docket
|Prior=
|Subsequent=
|Holding=
|Majority=
|JoinMajority=
|Concurrence=
|JoinConcurrence=
|Concurrence2=
|JoinConcurrence2=
|Concurrence/Dissent=
|JoinConcurrence/Dissent=
|Dissent=
|JoinDissent=
|Dissent2=
|JoinDissent2=
|LawsApplied=
}}
|
{{Infobox SCOTUS case
|Litigants=
|Litigants2=
|Litigants3=
|Litigants4=
|Litigants5=
|ArgueDate=
|ArgueDateA=
|ArgueDateB=
|ArgueYear=
|ReargueDate=
|ReargueDate2=
|ReargueDateA=
|ReargueDateB=
|ReargueDateA2=
|ReargueDateB2=
|ReargueYear=
|ReargueYear2=
|SubmitDate=
|SubmitYear=
|DecideDate=
|DecideYear=
|FullName=
|Docket=
|Docket2=
|Docket3=
|Docket4=
|Docket5=
|OralArgument=
|ParallelCitations=
|USVol=
|USPage=
|Claim=
|Prior=
|Procedural=
|Subsequent=
|QuestionsPresented=
|Holding=
|PerCuriam=yes
|Majority=
|JoinMajority=
|Majority2=
|JoinMajority2=
|Majority3=
|JoinMajority3=
|Plurality=
|JoinPlurality=
|Concurrence=
|JoinConcurrence=
|Concurrence2=
|JoinConcurrence2=
|Concurrence3=
|JoinConcurrence3=
|Concurrence4=
|JoinConcurrence4=
|Concurrence5=
|JoinConcurrence5=
|Concurrence/Dissent=
|JoinConcurrence/Dissent=
|Concurrence/Dissent2=
|JoinConcurrence/Dissent2=
|Concurrence/Dissent3=
|JoinConcurrence/Dissent3=
|Concurrence/Dissent4=
|JoinConcurrence/Dissent4=
|Concurrence/Dissent5=
|JoinConcurrence/Dissent5=
|Dissent=
|JoinDissent=
|Dissent2=
|JoinDissent2=
|Dissent3=
|JoinDissent3=
|Dissent4=
|JoinDissent4=
|Statement=
|Statement2=
|NotParticipating=
|Seriatim=
|Seriatim2=
|Seriatim3=
|Seriatim4=
|Seriatim5=
|LawsApplied=
|Superseded=
|Overruled=
|Overturned previous case=
}}
|
Argue dates
Most cases will only need to use ArgueDate, ArgueYear, DecideDate, and DecideYear. Only cases that have more than one argue date need to use ArgueDateA and ArgueDateB. ReargueDate and ReargueYear should only be used if there was a reargue date.
Citations
USVol and USPage
Cases should be cited using the U.S. Reports volume and page number in the USVol and USPage fields, respectively. If the case does not yet have a page assigned, use "|USPage=___" (three underscores).
ParallelCitations
The ParallelCitations field is for additional (parallel) citations for the same case (e.g. "|ParallelCitations=111 S. Ct. 1282; 113 L. Ed. 2d 358").
Docket
For newer cases (those decided after 2000 or so), you should enter the Supreme Court docket number in the Docket field (e.g. "|Docket=06-1234").
Prior history
This field can contain citations to prior decisions in the case, in trial court or lower appellate courts, or prior decisions by the subject court; these should be preceded by a two to four word description of the ruling—this (together with the subsequent history, following) is merely the bare bones procedural history of the case—what happened when at what court. Please use the citation only for the preferred court reporter (not all parallel citations) to reduce length. If unreported (as with most criminal convictions, for example), list the ruling, the court, and the date.
Subsequent history
This field can contain citations to or general descriptions of subsequent decisions by lower courts after a remand or vacation, or by the same court, as in a denial of rehearing, or continuing proceedings in a trial court.
Questions Presented
A brief summary of the questions that were presented to the Supreme Court in the case's petition. These are typically listed in numerical order in the petition to the court in the case docket. This field should be filled in while the case is in progress, but can be removed after the decision is issued.
Holding
A very brief (one or two sentence) description of what the central ruling of the case was. This may or may not be fact-specific, depending on how broadly the court's opinion was worded; follow with a short statement of what the specific outcome of the case was.
Court membership
The court membership is determined by the DecideDate and DecideYear parameters. These lists of justices can be edited at Template:Infobox SCOTUS case/courts or its sandbox page.
Case opinions
All the written opinions handed down in the case are listed in the following categories of majority, concurrence, etc. Always follow the designations used in the reported decision.
List all justices under these headings only by their last name, as their full names are already given above in the court membership section.
Note: If a judge recused or was otherwise absent, use the NotParticipating field to document that.
Majority
The justice who authored the majority opinion.
Joined by
The justices who joined in the majority/plurality opinion. Early cases (18th – mid-19th century) may not list who has joined in the majority—unless they are listed as the author of a separate concurrence or dissent, or as joining such a separate opinion, list them as joining the majority.[clarification needed] If the decision was unanimous, simply say that it was joined by "unanimous" rather than relisting every judge. Alternatively, "a unanimous court" is also somewhat common, and "unanimously" will cause the template to drop the "by" (producing "joined unanimously").
Concurrences, concurrence/dissents, dissents
List all concurrences, followed by concurrence/dissents, followed by dissents. Within each grouping, try to order the opinions by the seniority of the authoring justice, with the chief justice always considered the most senior regardless of actual length of tenure.
Concurrence/dissent
These will usually be labeled in the original opinion as "concurring in part and dissenting in part". Follow these designations, because from the text of the opinion alone it is sometimes difficult to tell concurrences from dissents from partial concurrences/partial dissents.
Statement
Statements made by a Justice but not in any form of concurrence or dissent, such as by Justice Ginsburg at Thompson v. Hebdon.
Laws applied
These are citations to the constitutional and statutory provisions that were the primary basis for the decision only. They do NOT include case law, nor every law that happens to be cited in the case or that is rejected as inapplicable with minimal discussion.
Manual of Style
This is a proposed manual of style. Its contents are based on the infoboxes found in various case articles, but notably the styles used in the three featured-article cases: Dred Scott v. Sandford, Roe v. Wade, and Lawrence v. Texas. This manual attempts to add consistency throughout all of the case articles. This manual's aim is to focus on the style that is currently widely used throughout United States Supreme Court cases. It is in no way a final draft, or set in stone. Changes should be made to it, and then implemented in the different articles.
The manual follows the template's layout. All parameter names are in bold (e.g. Litigants). Cases inside a single set of brackets [ ] are examples where a certain item can be seen "in action."
General notes
Formatting is done automatically. There is no need to use wiki markup ('' or ''') or HTML (<b> or <i>) for most parameters. Exceptions are: Prior, Subsequent, Superseded, Overruled, and Overturned previous case.
Litigants
In almost all cases, Litigants will be the same as the name of the article, often also known as the short name of the case found at the top of the printed pages of the case [Dred Scott v. Sandford].
Argue date
Most cases will simply need to use ArgueDate and ArgueYear. If the case was argued over more than one day, ArgueDateA and ArgueDateB can be employed. Unless the argue dates span over more than one month, the month's name should only be used once [Eisenstadt v. Baird]. If a case was reargued, the same style should be used [Champion v. Ames]. Also, the full name of the month should always be used.
Older cases may not list an argue date. Thorough research can generally produce one, but if a date can not be found, leave the parameters blank. Other old cases will have a submitted date; in these instances, use SubmitDate and SubmitYear [Nix v. Hedden].
Decide date
There is only ever one DecideDate and DecideYear.
Full name
The full case name should try to include the first and last names of all parties and whatever other information is included in the full name of the case [Bowers v. Hardwick]. For example, Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General of Georgia v. Michael Hardwick, et al. If that information cannot be found, using a shorter name of the case is permissible.
Any time "et al." is used, there should always be a comma preceding it.
Volume and page
USVol and USPage are the United States Reports volume number and starting page on which the case was reported.
Docket number
Newer cases should use Docket (e.g. "|Docket=05-184") [Hamdan v. Rumsfeld].
Citations
The U.S. Reports citation will be generated automatically from the USVol and USPage fields. Most cases should include additional citations such as the Supreme Court Reporter (S. Ct.) in the ParallelCitations field. You should not begin this field with anything other than the next citation; a semicolon or another space is redundant [Loving v. Virginia]. Each citation should be separated by a semicolon and a single space, never any other type of punctuation (e.g. "|ParallelCitations=87 S. Ct. 1817; 18 L. Ed. 2d 1010; 1967 U.S. LEXIS 1082").
Newer cases that have yet to be assigned a specific volume and page should use "|USPage=___" (three underscores). The correct volume that a case will be in when it's assigned its page can be found on the Supreme Court's website; it will be on top of every odd-numbered page of the PDF slip opinion except the first. Other citations will be available and should be separated by a semi-colon and a single space [eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C.].
Prior history
Prior is the most lenient field. The information here should be whatever you can gather. Sometimes that will be only a short statement [Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha] or may be more in-depth [Roe v. Wade]. All formatting here must be added by the user. Prior should never end in a period, comma, or semi-colon. An exception can be made if a period is used as part of an abbreviation.
Subsequent history
Subsequent is optional. Newer cases most likely won't have a subsequent history. Older cases may never have gone any further after being decided by the Supreme Court. A simple "None" can be used in this instance.[clarification needed] Once again, Subsequent should never end in a period, comma, or semi-colon. An exception can be made if a period is used as part of an abbreviation and all formatting here must be added by the user.
Holding
Holding consists of a few sentences describing the Court's ruling. It should be concise and it should always end in a period.
Case opinions
Laws applied
Previous cases
Superseded
Superseded is used when a later case partially changes the ruling in an earlier case. For example, the case of Ring v. Arizona superseded Walton v. Arizona, as it partially overruled the previous case. The earlier case gets the |Superseded= parameter set to the italicized, wikilinked named of the later case (as if the parameter were actually named "Superseded by", which is the heading that appears in the Infobox).
For example, in Walton v. Arizona, we set |Superseded=''[[Ring v. Arizona]]'' .
- Note: There is currently no equivalent "Supersedes" parameter to be set in the later article.
Overruled
Overruled may be used where a later case changes the findings in an earlier one. As noted above in the Ring case, it also overruled Spaziano v. Florida. The earlier case gets the |Overruled= parameter set to the italicized, wikilinked named of the later case (as if the parameter were actually named "Overruled by", which is the heading that appears in the Infobox).
For example, in Spaziano v. Florida, we set |Overruled=''[[Ring v. Arizona]]'' .
- Note: There is currently no equivalent "Overrules" parameter to be set in the later article.
Overturned previous case
If the holding of a case is completely changed by a later case, the original case is said to be overturned. Unlike |Overrules= and |Supersedes=, in the later case article, the |Overturned previous case= parameter should be set to the value of the earlier case, including italicizing and wikilinking markup (as if the parameter were actually named "Overturns").
For example, the Supreme Court overturned a prior case when it announced in Lawrence v. Texas that it had been wrong in deciding the original case of Bowers v. Hardwick. In the Lawrence v. Texas article, we set |Overturned previous case=''[[Bowers v. Hardwick]]''.
- Note: There is currently no equivalent "Overturned by" parameter to be set in the earlier article.
Tracking categories
- Category:Pages using infobox US Supreme Court case with unknown parameters (0)
- Category:Flagged U.S. Supreme Court articles (442)
Categorization
This template automatically categorizes articles into Category:United States Supreme Court cases. In addition, if |PerCuriam= is set, it categorizes articles into Category:United States Supreme Court per curiam opinions.
Template data
TemplateData for Infobox US Supreme Court case
Infobox for United States Supreme Court cases
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litigants | Litigants | no description | Unknown | required |
| Litigants2 | Litigants2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Litigants3 | Litigants3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Litigants4 | Litigants4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Litigants5 | Litigants5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Date argued | ArgueDate | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| ArgueDateA | ArgueDateA | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ArgueDateB | ArgueDateB | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ArgueDateC | ArgueDateC | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Year argued | ArgueYear | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| Date reargued | ReargueDate | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Year reargued | ReargueYear | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ReargueDate2 | ReargueDate2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ReargueYear2 | ReargueYear2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ReargueDateA | ReargueDateA | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ReargueDateA2 | ReargueDateA2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ReargueDateB | ReargueDateB | no description | Unknown | optional |
| ReargueDateB2 | ReargueDateB2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Date submitted | SubmitDate | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Year submitted | SubmitYear | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Date decided | DecideDate | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| Year decided | DecideYear | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| Full case name | FullName | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| United States Reports volume number | USVol | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| United States Reports page number | USPage | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Parallel citations | ParallelCitations | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Docket number | Docket | Supreme Court docket number for newer cases (those decided after 2000 or so) | Unknown | suggested |
| Docket2 | Docket2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Docket3 | Docket3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Docket4 | Docket4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Docket5 | Docket5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Oral argument URL | OralArgument | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| Oral reargument URL | OralReargument | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| Opinion announcement URL | OpinionAnnouncement | no description
| Unknown | suggested |
| Claim | Claim | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Prior | Prior | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Procedural | Procedural | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Subsequent history | Subsequent | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Questions presented | QuestionsPresented | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Holding | Holding | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| If the opinion was per curiam | PerCuriam | If set, places article in [[:Category:United States Supreme Court per curiam opinions]]. | Unknown | optional |
| Majority opinion by | Majority | The justice who authored the majority opinion. | Unknown | suggested |
| Majority joined by | JoinMajority | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Second majority by | Majority2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Second majority joined by | JoinMajority2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Third majority by | Majority3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Third majority joined by | JoinMajority3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Plurality by | Plurality | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Plurality joined by | JoinPlurality | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Second plurality by | Plurality2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Second plurality joined by | JoinPlurality2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Third plurality by | Plurality3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Third plurality joined by | JoinPlurality3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Fourth plurality by | Plurality4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Fourth plurality joined by | JoinPlurality4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence | Concurrence | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| JoinConcurrence | JoinConcurrence | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Concurrence2 | Concurrence2 | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| JoinConcurrence2 | JoinConcurrence2 | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Concurrence3 | Concurrence3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence3 | JoinConcurrence3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence4 | Concurrence4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence4 | JoinConcurrence4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence5 | Concurrence5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence5 | JoinConcurrence5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence6 | Concurrence6 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence6 | JoinConcurrence6 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence7 | Concurrence7 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence7 | JoinConcurrence7 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence8 | Concurrence8 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence8 | JoinConcurrence8 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence/Dissent | Concurrence/Dissent | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| JoinConcurrence/Dissent | JoinConcurrence/Dissent | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| OralArguments | OralArguments | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence/Dissent2 | Concurrence/Dissent2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence/Dissent2 | JoinConcurrence/Dissent2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence/Dissent3 | Concurrence/Dissent3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence/Dissent3 | JoinConcurrence/Dissent3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence/Dissent4 | Concurrence/Dissent4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence/Dissent4 | JoinConcurrence/Dissent4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Concurrence/Dissent5 | Concurrence/Dissent5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| JoinConcurrence/Dissent5 | JoinConcurrence/Dissent5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Dissent by | Dissent | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Dissent joined by | JoinDissent | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Second dissent by | Dissent2 | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Second dissent joined by | JoinDissent2 | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Third dissent by | Dissent3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Third dissent joined by | JoinDissent3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Fourth dissent by | Dissent4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Fourth dissent joined by | JoinDissent4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Fifth dissent | Dissent5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Fifth dissent joined by | JoinDissent5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Justice not participating | NotParticipating | If one or more judges were on the court at the time the decision was rendered, yet did not participate in the case because of a recent appointment, recusal, or other absence, list them here. | Unknown | optional |
| Seriatim | Seriatim | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Seriatim2 | Seriatim2 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Seriatim3 | Seriatim3 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Seriatim4 | Seriatim4 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Seriatim5 | Seriatim5 | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Laws applied | LawsApplied | no description | Unknown | suggested |
| Superseded | Superseded | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Overruled | Overruled | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Previous cases overturned | Overturned previous case | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Abrogated | Abrogated | no description | Unknown | optional |
| italic title | italic title | no description | Unknown | optional |
| category | category | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Citation | Citation | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Outcome | Outcome | no description | Unknown | optional |
| Related | Related | no description | Unknown | optional |
See also
- Template:Infobox COA case For US court of appeals cases.
- Template:Infobox high court to create a US State Supreme Court template, for example, Oregon Supreme Court