New Edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation Adds Tribal Law Citation Rules for the First Time
April 23, 2026
A new edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is making a significant change in how legal writing works in the United States. For the first time, The Bluebook includes formal rules for citing Tribal law.
The twenty-second edition introduces Rule 22, which provides clear guidance for citing Tribal Nations in legal writing. While The Bluebook has long been considered the standard for legal citation, it previously did not include a dedicated system for Tribal legal materials.
The update also revises parts of the treaties section, adding specific instructions for citing treaties involving Tribal Nations. These changes treat Tribal Nations with the same level of recognition as other sovereign entities. In addition, a new table has been added that lists all federally recognized Tribal Nations.
The change was developed by a group of Native law librarians who worked closely with editors of The Bluebook. Among those involved were UNM School of Law Professor and Director of the Law and Indigenous Peoples Program Sherri Thomas and University of Southern California Law Librarian and Professor Amber Madole.
Professor Thomas believes that the work is not done. She says, “While this marks an important step toward recognizing Tribal sovereigns and their legal authority within the legal academy and the profession, there remains a critical need to acknowledge oral legal traditions shared by elders as more than mere testimony. For Native peoples, these traditions are recognized as law, carrying weight equal to that of written statutes.”
As The Bluebook continues to shape how legal writing is taught and practiced, the inclusion of Tribal law marks a notable step forward. The new rules are expected to make legal work more consistent while also encouraging greater attention to Tribal legal systems in classrooms and courtrooms.
