United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth 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 Fifth Circuit Rules and IOPs — FRAP 32(a)(5); 5th Cir. R. 32.1; FRAP 32(a)(7), 32(f)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · FRAP 32(a)(2)
2. CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PERSONS — Required · 5th Cir. R. 28.2.1 (satisfies FRAP 26.1)
3. STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT — Required · 5th Cir. R. 28.2.3
4. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · FRAP 28(a)(2)
5. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(3)
6. STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION — 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 — Required · FRAP 28(a)(9)
12. Signature block — Required · FRAP 32(d)
13. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · FRAP 25
14. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · FRAP 32(g); 5th Cir. R. 32.3

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: ROA.123 (multiple records: ROA.13-12345.123) per 5th Cir. R. 28.2.2

Record Excerpts

Required. Pages are numbered like RE 12. (5th Cir. R. 30.1.2-30.1.7)

• white cover
• table of contents with ROA citations
• district court docket sheet
• notice of appeal
• indictment (criminal)
• jury verdict
• judgment/order/opinion appealed
• other relevant rulings
• optional items (max 40 pages)

Required from counseled appellants only (not pro se). Tabbed sections. The court uses the electronic record on appeal (EROA) instead of a FRAP 30 appendix.

Certificates

• Compliance: Certificate of compliance with type-volume, typeface and type-style (FRAP 32(g)); 14-pt text/12-pt footnotes
• Service: Certificate of service (FRAP 25)
• Certificate of interested persons listing all persons/entities with financial interest in outcome, with prescribed certification language (5th Cir. R. 28.2.1)

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)
• Monospaced footnotes max 12.5 cpi
• EROA citation format enables automatic hyperlinks for judges

Filing: CM/ECF mandatory for counsel (5th Cir. R. 25.2.1); 7 paper copies only when the clerk requests (after sufficiency review)