The 22nd edition of The Bluebook was released in summer 2025. It includes expanded guidance, revised rules, and new citation formats, including:
For the most up-to-date rules and corrections, check the Bluebook Online.
Questions about what’s changed or how to cite under the new edition? Ask a librarian!
Rule 20 governs how to cite foreign legal sources, including cases, statutes, regulations, and other materials from jurisdictions outside the United States. It also covers how to cite legal documents written in languages other than English (see Rule 20.2 for guidance on translations and transliteration).
For citation formats from specific countries, consult Table T2, which provides jurisdiction-specific rules and examples. Note that Table T2 is only available online and is no longer included in the print version of The Bluebook. If your jurisdiction is not covered by Table T2, consult the Additional Resources section below for additional citation guidance.
In foreign law research, it's not always possible to access original case law or statutes. When a primary source is unavailable, Rule 1.6 permits citation to secondary sources that quote or discuss the original. Use introductory phrases such as quoted in, construed in, or reviewed by to show that you're relying on a secondary source.
Rule 21 covers citations to a wide range of international legal sources, including treaties, decisions from international courts and tribunals, and documents from intergovernmental organizations. Notable updates in the 22nd edition of The Bluebook include new guidance for International Criminal Court (ICC) cases, reorganized treaty citation rules, and revised references to official online sources.
| Source Type | Bluebook Rule |
|---|---|
| Treaties and Other International Agreements |
Generally: Rule 21.4 Treaties with Tribal Nations: Rule 21.4.2 Treaties to which the U.S. is a party: Rule 21.4.5(a)
Treaties to which the U.S. is not a party: Rule 21.4.5(b) Table T4 (Treaty Sources) lists official U.S. sources, intergovernmental sources, and unofficial sources, and provides citation templates in each category. For guidance on treaty research, please consult the Mabie Law Library's guide on Foreign and International Legal Research - Treaty Research. The guide organizes treaty sources in order of Bluebook preference. |
| International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ) | Rule 21.5.1 |
| Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) | Rule 21.5.2 |
| European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) | Rule 21.5.3 |
| United Nations Sources | Rule 21.7 |
| European Union Legislation and Documents | Rule 21.9 |
| World Trade Organization (WTO) | Rule 21.11 |
| International Criminal Court (ICC) | Rule 21.3.3(b) |
The Mabie Law Library's Foreign and International Legal Research guide lists research sources and suggestions for finding foreign and international law materials. Parts of the guide emphasize Bluebook-preferred sources.
Because The Bluebook covers only selected foreign jurisdictions, you may need to consult an additional citation guide: