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.
In addition to proper nouns, capitalize words that designate a particular person, place, or thing:
► the Chief Justice
► The Florida Bar
► the Board of Bar Examiners
► the Civil Rights Act
► United States Supreme Court Justices
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).
Capitalize acts, laws, bills, and treaties only when referring to a specific act, law, bill, or treaty:
► Civil Rights Act of 1964
► Treaty of Versailles
► The Senate bill stalled on the calendar for months.
► The Sunday closing laws were originally efforts to promote church attendance.
Capitalize legislative sessions:
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
► article I, section 23 of the Florida Constitution.
► 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.
(a) Government Bodies: Capitalize the names of government bodies.
► House of Representatives
► Department of Justice
► 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
► 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 supreme court
► the Florida Supreme Court
► the Supreme Court of Florida [the official name]
(3) Florida District Courts of Appeal
► the district court
► the Third District Court
► the Third District Court of Appeal
(4) Florida Circuit Courts
► the Sixteenth Circuit Court
(5) Florida County Courts
► the county court
► the Leon County Court