District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Brief and appendix rules we apply — State appeal, $299.

Format

Type: Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced
Margins: 1-inch margins
Opening brief: No fixed limit found
Reply brief: No fixed limit found
Rules: Rules of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals — D.C. App. R. 32(a); D.C. App. R. 32(a)(7)

Parts of the brief, in order

Cover — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(1)
LIST OF PARTIES, INTERVENORS, AMICI AND COUNSEL; CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(2)
TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(3)
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(4)
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(5)
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(6)
STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(7)
STATEMENT OF FACTS — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(8)
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(9)
ARGUMENT — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(10)
CONCLUSION — Required · D.C. App. R. 28(a)(11)
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — If applicable · D.C. App. R. 32 (not verified)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · D.C. App. R. 25

Argument headings: Argument with appellant's contentions and reasons, citations to authorities and appendix pages; concise standard of review for each issue (in discussion or separate heading)

Standard of review: For each issue, either in the discussion or under a separate heading (D.C. App. R. 28(a)(10))

Record citations: References to appendix pages (e.g., App. 12); unreproduced material cited to page of original document (D.C. App. R. 28(e))

Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like App. 12. (D.C. App. R. 30)

table of contents
relevant docket entries
relevant pleadings/charge
judgment, order or decision appealed
other parts of record relied on

Contents summarized from FRAP-style rule; current D.C. App. R. 30 text (2024) not read

Certificates

Service: Certificate of service on all parties

Good to know

OFFICIAL Rule 32 TEXT NOT READ: dccourts.gov returned 403 for Rule 32/30 PDFs; typeface, spacing, and length limits left null
Rule 28 read from 2019 posted version; later amendments possible
D.C. Court of Appeals is the court of last resort; there is no intermediate appellate court

Filing: DCCA e-filing system (eFiling mandatory for attorneys; details not verified)

Questions

What font and spacing does the District of Columbia Court of Appeals require for briefs?

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (D.C. App. R. 32(a)).

How long can an opening brief be in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals?

No fixed limit found (D.C. App. R. 32(a)(7)). Reply brief: No fixed limit found.

What goes in the appendix?

Appendix: table of contents; relevant docket entries; relevant pleadings/charge; judgment, order or decision appealed; other parts of record relied on.