This rule is intended to clarify Bluebook Rule 5. When a quotation with fifty or more words appears in a BTL footnote, these rules should be followed.
C.4(a): Quotations within a Parenthetical
When a quotation with fifty or more words appears within an explanatory parenthetical in a footnote, this quotation should not be formatted as a block quote but instead should be enclosed in quotation marks and not otherwise set off from the text.
EXAMPLE:
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304 Herb Brooks, Head Coach, USA Hockey, Pregame Address before the Mens’ Ice Hockey Semi-Finals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York (Feb. 22, 1980) (inspiring his team to victory by declaring, “You were born to be hockey players, every one of you, and you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It’s over. I am sick and tired of hearing what a great hockey team the Soviets have. This is your time! Now go out there and take it!”).
C.4(b): Quotations with Fifty or More Words in a Textual Sentence
When a quotation with fifty or more words appears within a textual sentence in a footnote, this quotation should be formatted as a block quote according to Bluebook Rule 5.1. The quotation should be indented on both the left and right without quotation marks.
EXAMPLE:
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305 Id. A more recent inspiring sports speech came during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl parade in 2018 when Jason Kelce proclaimed:
Any of you know how the biggest underdog is? It’s y’all, Philadelphia. For 52 years, y’all have been waiting for this. You want to talk about an underdog? You want to talk about a hungry dog? For 52 years you’ve been starved of this championship. Everyone wonders why we’re so mean. Everybody wonders why the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t the nicest fans.
Jason Kelce, Center, Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl LII Victory Speech at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Feb. 8, 2018).