Appellate Court of the State of Connecticut

Format

Type

Arial 12 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

13,500 words

Reply brief

6,500 words

Rules

Connecticut Practice Book, Rules of Appellate Procedure (Chapters 60-86) — Practice Book § 67-2; Practice Book § 67-3

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · Practice Book § 67-2
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
3. STATEMENT OF ISSUES — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
4. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
5. STATEMENT OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND OF THE FACTS — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
6. ARGUMENT — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
7. CONCLUSION AND STATEMENT OF RELIEF REQUESTED — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
8. Signature block — Required · Practice Book § 67-4
9. CERTIFICATION — Required · Practice Book § 67-2A

Argument headings: Argument divided under appropriate headings; for each claim state the standard of review and where the claim was preserved (Practice Book § 67-4, as generally practiced - verify)

Standard of review: In the argument for each issue (Practice Book § 67-4)

Record citations: Appendix pages (A12); transcript by date and page (T. 3/4/25, p. 56) - format not verified

Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like A12. (Practice Book § 67-8)

• Part One: table of contents
• docket sheets
• pleadings/relevant filings
• decision or judgment appealed from
• Part Two: exhibits and transcripts relied on (as permitted)

Structure summarized from general practice; not verified against current § 67-8 text

Certificates

• Compliance: Certify the brief complies with format and word-count rules, electronic copy is identical to any paper copy, and personal identifying information redacted (§ 67-2A)
• Service: Certify delivery to all counsel/self-represented parties of record

Good to know

• OFFICIAL TEXT NOT READ: jud.ct.gov unreachable from research environment
• Long-standing rule requires Arial or Univers font, at least 12 pt (verify current § 67-2)
• Word limits 13,500 principal / 6,500 reply taken from a Connecticut appellate firm's summary, not the rule text
• 2026 amendments: paper briefs eliminated for e-filers; 'Filed Under the Electronic Briefing Rules' cover label removed; bookmarks required

Filing: Connecticut Judicial Branch appellate e-filing / e-briefing; PDF bookmarked to each section and appendix item; external hyperlinks permitted from 2026 (§ 67-2A)