Cite Check
Cite Check scans the case citations it identifies in submitted text and checks them against legal-source databases. It can flag citations that do not match a case in the database, citation-detail mismatches, and available negative-treatment signals. A successful match does not establish that the authority supports the proposition for which it is cited; always review the underlying opinion before relying on it.
What Cite Check checks
Each identified citation is checked across three dimensions:
1. Existence check (anti-hallucination)
Attempts to match the citation to a case record in the case-law database. This is the primary defense against AI-hallucinated citations - if the case name, volume, reporter, or page number does not match a record, Cite Check flags it.
2. Format accuracy
Validates that the citation string matches the correct format for the referenced case:
- Correct reporter abbreviation.
- Correct volume and page number.
- Correct year and court designation.
Minor formatting errors (e.g., wrong year, incorrect reporter) are flagged so you can fix them before filing.
3. Treatment signals
Surfaces available subsequent-treatment information associated with the matched authority, including signals that may warrant further review:
- Overruled - a higher court has explicitly overruled the holding.
- Reversed - the decision was reversed on appeal.
- Distinguished - later courts have limited the holding to its facts.
- Negatively treated - subsequent cases have criticized or questioned the reasoning.
These are signals to review, not a determination that the authority is or is not good law. That determination is the attorney's.
Running Cite Check
Open Cite Check
Navigate to the Cite Check tool from the Research surface or trigger it from within the Drafting Assistant on an open document.
Submit content
Paste text, select a document from your Matter, or let Cite Check scan the document currently open in the Drafting Assistant.
Review results
Cite Check returns a result for each citation it identifies. Each receives one of three statuses:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pass | Cite Check found a matching case record and did not identify a citation-format issue or the treatment conditions it is configured to flag. A Pass does not establish proposition support, relevance, or legal applicability. |
| Warning | Cite Check matched the citation to a case record that carries treatment signals, such as being distinguished or negatively treated. Review recommended. |
| Fail | The citation could not be matched to a record in the database, has a formatting error, or carries treatment signals indicating it was overruled or reversed. |
Reading the results
Each citation entry in the results panel shows:
- The citation string as it appears in your text.
- The matched case (or "No match found" for hallucinated citations).
- A status badge (Pass, Warning, or Fail).
- A short explanation of any issues detected.
Click a result to expand it and see the full case details, including subsequent history and treatment.
A Pass status means the citation is real and the case has not been overruled, but it does not guarantee the case supports the proposition for which it is cited. Always read the opinion to confirm relevance.
Common issues Cite Check catches
- Hallucinated cases - AI-generated citations that reference cases that do not exist.
- Wrong reporter or volume - transposed numbers or incorrect reporter abbreviations.
- Outdated law - cases that carry treatment signals indicating they have since been overruled.
- Parallel citation mismatches - official and unofficial reporters that do not align.