United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Format

Type

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

14,000 words

Reply brief

7,000 words

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 Federal Circuit Rules of Practice — FRAP 32(a)(1)-(6); Fed. Cir. R. 32(b)(1)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · FRAP 32(a)(2)
2. CERTIFICATE OF INTEREST — Required · Fed. Cir. R. 28(a); Fed. Cir. R. 47.4; Form 9
3. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · FRAP 28(a)(2)
4. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(3)
5. STATEMENT OF RELATED CASES — Required · Fed. Cir. R. 28(a); 47.5
6. JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(4)
7. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(5)
8. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · FRAP 28(a)(6)
9. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(7)
10. ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(8)
11. CONCLUSION AND STATEMENT OF RELIEF SOUGHT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(9)
12. Signature block — Required · FRAP 32(d)
13. ADDENDUM — Required · Fed. Cir. R. 28(c)(1)
14. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — If applicable · FRAP 25(d)
15. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE (Form 19) — Required · FRAP 32(g); Fed. Cir. R. 32(b)(3)

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: Appx123; Appx123-132 (no spaces/periods, repeat full digits) (Fed. Cir. R. 28(f))

Appendix (joint, filed after briefs)

Required. Pages are numbered like Appx12. (Fed. Cir. R. 30)

• table of contents
• judgments/orders/decisions appealed (addendum material)
• docket entries
• other record portions cited in briefs

Pages Bates-numbered with 'Appx' prefix, centered in bottom margin (Fed. Cir. R. 30(b)(2)(C), 30(c)(2)). Addendum to opening brief (with own TOC) contains judgments, orders, opinions, findings, rehearing rulings and, in patent cases, the patents at issue in full; addendum shares appendix pagination.

Certificates

• Compliance: Form 19 certificate of compliance with type-volume (Fed. Cir. R. 32(b)(3))
• Service: Certificate of service when not served through CM/ECF (FRAP 25(d))
• Certificate of Interest, Form 9 (Fed. Cir. R. 47.4)
• Confidential/nonconfidential versions: label cover, bracket or highlight confidential material, describe redactions (Fed. Cir. R. 25.1(e))

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)
• Fed. Cir. retained 14,000/7,000 word limits
• Clerk's 'Common Filing Errors' (Mar. 2026) is the best compliance checklist

Filing: CM/ECF; number of paper copies (Fed. Cir. R. 31(b)) not verified