What is meant by the term 'parallel citation' in legal documentation?

The term 'parallel citation' refers to the practice of providing a citation to a legal case that appears in more than one publication or reporter. This is important because different jurisdictions or reporters might publish the same case, and attorneys or legal scholars may reference these alternative sources to ensure that they are citing the most accessible or preferred version for their audience. In some cases, a case may have a primary citation to a reporter and additional citations to other reporters where it is also published. This allows for easy cross-reference and verification of legal authorities.

For instance, if a court case is reported in both the official state reporter and a national reporter, including both citations in legal documents enables practitioners to direct readers to the relevant case information regardless of which reporter they may have access to. This practice enhances clarity and accessibility in legal writing.