Home > West's Encyclopedia of American Law > Parallel Citation

A reference to the same case or statute published in two or more sources.

For example, BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in 1954, can be located in 347 U.S. 483, 74 S. Ct. 686, and 98 L. Ed. 873. These references are parallel citations to reporters in which Supreme Court decisions are published.