So You Wanna Cite Like a Legal Eagle (Without Getting Claws in a Bunch): A Guide to Pennsylvania Statutes
Ever found yourself neck-deep in legalese, needing to cite a Pennsylvania statute but unsure where to start? Fear not, fellow citizen-scholar! This guide will have you wielding citations like a legal ninja...well, maybe a legal paralegal in training. But hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
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| How To Cite Pennsylvania Statutes |
The Tale of Two Pennsylvanias: Consolidated vs. Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania has two types of statutes: the cool kids (the Consolidated Statutes) and the, well, not-so-cool kids (the Unconsolidated Statutes).
Tip: Highlight what feels important.
- The Consolidated Statutes are the organized bunch, neatly filed under titles and sections. Citing them is a breeze, like following a recipe. We'll cover that in a sec.
- The Unconsolidated Statutes are the wild ones, scattered about in various legislative archives. Citing them requires a bit more detective work, but fear not, we'll crack that code too.
Remember: This ain't high school homework. Double-check your citations to avoid any legal faux pas (that's French for "whoops-a-daisy").
Tip: Don’t skim — absorb.
Citing the Consolidated Crew: Easy as Pie (Almost)
For our Consolidated Statutes, we use a format that would make even the most meticulous librarian proud: Title Number Pa. C.S. § Section Number.
Tip: Highlight sentences that answer your questions.
For example, if you're citing the law on the proper way to bake a pie (hypothetically, of course), it might look like this: 1 Pa. C.S. § 456 (relating to perfect pie crust). See? Simple!
Tip: Summarize the post in one sentence.
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Taming the Unconsolidated Chaos: A Quest for Citations
The Unconsolidated Statutes require some extra effort. Here's your roadmap:
- Digging for Dates: Find the year the statute was enacted. This might be buried in legalese, so grab your magnifying glass (or just good ol' Google).
- Paging Through the Pamphlet Laws: Look for the law in the Pamphlet Laws, which are basically Pennsylvania's legal yearbooks. They have a fun, non-descriptive name, right?
- Double Duty with Purdon's: If you can find it, Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated is a helpful secondary source that often includes citations to both the Pamphlet Laws and the section number it would have had if it were consolidated (fancy, huh?).
Your final citation might look something like this: Act of February 14, 2008, P.L. 345, § 3 (also available at 42 Pa.C.S. § 789 (Purdon's 2024)).
Phew! That was a workout. But hey, at least you'll sound impressive, right?
FAQ: Become a Citation Master
- How to find the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes? They're online at [link to Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes website]!
- How to access the Pamphlet Laws? Many libraries have them, or you can find them online through legal research services.
- How much does Purdon's cost? Let's just say it might be cheaper to bake a bunch of pies for your legal research needs.
- How to cite a court case that interprets a statute? That's a whole other adventure! But legal research librarians are your friends.
- How to avoid getting lost in the legal citation jungle? If in doubt, consult a legal professional. They'll be happy to help...for a fee (sorry, gotta be realistic).
So there you have it! Now you're (almost) ready to navigate the wonderful world of Pennsylvania statute citations. Remember, legal research can be complex, so don't be afraid to ask for help. But with a little know-how and this guide, you'll be citing like a pro in no time...or at least understand when someone else is!
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