Also known as: sup. cit. · sup cit · supracitatum · supra · cited above
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A citation signal in legal writing directing the reader to an authority mentioned earlier in the same document. The phrase functions as a shorthand cross-reference that avoids repetition of full bibliographic details while preserving the connection to the prior discussion.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Sarah Sullivan prepared a summary judgment motion arguing that a pre-contract letter satisfied the statute of frauds. After quoting the full text of Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 136 in the first section of the brief, she later invoked the same provision with supra citatum when addressing the timing of the signed offer. The court accepted the cross-reference and treated the earlier quotation as controlling authority.
Samuel Soto filed a reply brief challenging the adequacy of notice in a trust proceeding. Having set out the full holding of Mullane in the statement of facts, he later referred to the same due-process standard with supra citatum when rebutting the bank’s waiver argument. The appellate panel followed the cross-reference without requiring re-quotation of the opinion.
Stella Shapiro moved to dismiss a diversity action by arguing that state substantive law controlled. After quoting Erie at length in the preliminary statement, she invoked the same rule with supra citatum when urging the court to disregard a conflicting federal procedural gloss. The district judge adopted the cross-reference and applied state law to the claim.
Serena Soto filed a petition for certiorari attacking a state restriction on reproductive services. Having reproduced the trimester framework from Roe in the first argument section, she later cited the same constitutional holding with supra citatum when addressing the state’s health justification. The Court granted review and relied on the earlier quotation.
Selena Singh opposed a libel claim brought by a public official. After quoting the actual-malice requirement from New York Times at the outset of the brief, she invoked the same First Amendment rule with supra citatum when analyzing the plaintiff’s failure to plead knowing falsity. The trial court dismissed the complaint on that basis.
Sabrina Shah argued on appeal that a state contraceptive ban violated the right to marital privacy. Having set forth the full reasoning of Griswold in the table of authorities, she later referred to the same constitutional principle with supra citatum when rebutting the state’s morals-based defense. The court of appeals reversed and cited the cross-reference.
A lawyer may use the phrase once the full citation has already appeared earlier in the same document. The signal then directs the reader back to that prior reference without repeating the complete bibliographic information.
…see Eisenstadt v. Baird , 405 U. S., at 460, 463-464 (WHITE, J., concurring in result). In the recent abortion cases, cited above, courts have recognized these principles. Those striking down state laws have generally scrutinized the State's interests in protecting health and potential life, and have concluded that…