What does the ALWD Citation Manual state regarding citations to evidentiary and procedural rules?

The ALWD Citation Manual provides guidance on how to cite various legal documents, including evidentiary and procedural rules. The correct approach, as outlined in the manual, is to use the abbreviated name and number of the rule when citing these types of legal documents. This method allows for a concise citation that is easily recognized by legal professionals and is consistent with typical legal writing practices.

The rationale behind using an abbreviation rather than the full name is primarily to enhance clarity and brevity in legal writing, making it easier for readers to quickly understand and locate the referenced material without unnecessary verbosity. Citing only the abbreviated name and number also aligns with the need for standardization in legal citations, ensuring that readers can efficiently pinpoint the applicable rules without confusion.

Other potential citation methods, such as listing all instances of the rules cited or including all amendments to the rules, would lead to excessive length and complexity in citations, detracting from the writing's clarity and focus. Therefore, adherence to the abbreviated format is emphasized for effective legal communication.