United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Format

Type

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

13,000 words or 30 pages

Reply brief

6,500 words or 15 pages

What counts

Excludes cover, disclosure statement, TOC, TOA, glossary, statement regarding oral argument, addendum of statutes/rules, certificates of counsel, signature block, proof of service, and any item the rule exempts (FRAP 32(f)); headings, footnotes, quotations count

Rules

FRAP and D.C. Circuit Rules; Handbook of Practice and Internal Procedures — FRAP 32(a); D.C. Cir. R. 32; FRAP 32(a)(7); D.C. Cir. R. 32(e)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · FRAP 32(a)(2); D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(8)
2. CERTIFICATE AS TO PARTIES, RULINGS, AND RELATED CASES — Required · D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(1)
3. CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT — If applicable · FRAP 26.1; D.C. Cir. R. 26.1
4. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · FRAP 28(a)(2)
5. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (asterisk authorities chiefly relied on) — Required · D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(2)
6. GLOSSARY — If applicable · D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(3)
7. JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(4)
8. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(5)
9. STATUTES AND REGULATIONS — Required · D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(5) (in brief or addendum)
10. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · FRAP 28(a)(6)
11. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(7)
12. STANDING — If applicable · D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(7) (agency review)
13. ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(8)
14. CONCLUSION — Required · FRAP 28(a)(9)
15. Signature block — Required · FRAP 32(d)
16. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — If applicable · FRAP 32(g)
17. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — If applicable · FRAP 25(d)
18. ADDENDUM (statutes and regulations) — If applicable · D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(5)

Argument headings: Argument divided under numbered/lettered point headings (e.g. 'I.', 'A.'); all headings reproduced in TOC; contentions with citations to authorities and the record (FRAP 28(a)(8)(A))

Standard of review: For each issue, a concise statement of the applicable standard of review, in the argument or under a separate heading placed before discussion of the issues (FRAP 28(a)(8)(B))

Record citations: (JA 123)

Joint Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like JA12. (FRAP 30; D.C. Cir. R. 30)

• table of contents
• relevant docket entries
• pleadings, opinions, transcripts and exhibits in chronological order
• judgment/order appealed

White covers; may be double-sided; binding must lie flat (spiral/comb/wire). Deferred appendix option common: initial (page-proof) briefs then final briefs with JA cites (D.C. Cir. R. 30(c), 31(b)).

Certificates

• Compliance: Certificate that the brief complies with the type-volume limit, stating the number of words (or lines) per the word-processing count; Form 6 may be used (FRAP 32(g)(1))
• Service: Proof of service showing date and manner of service, names and addresses (FRAP 25(d)); not required for papers served via CM/ECF on registered users per circuit rule
• Certificate as to Parties, Rulings, and Related Cases (D.C. Cir. R. 28(a)(1))
• Rule 26.1 disclosure statement (D.C. Cir. R. 26.1)

Good to know

• Appellee brief may omit jurisdiction, issues, case statement and standard of review unless dissatisfied with appellant's (FRAP 28(b))
• Pro se litigants: FRAP 32 limits apply; handwritten/informal briefs and appendix exemptions vary by circuit (see below)
• Times New Roman or Century encouraged; Garamond discouraged (Brief Compliance Checklist)
• Avoid uncommon acronyms; glossary required when abbreviations used (see Clerk's acronym notice)
• 2024 amendments effective Apr. 1, 2024 left brief word limits unchanged

Filing: CM/ECF; fully searchable PDF; paper: 8 copies of final briefs (initial briefs under deferred appendix: original only) (D.C. Cir. R. 31(b)); JA 8 copies (7 when e-filed)