Idaho Supreme Court

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 front cover, caption page, TOC, TOA, signature block, certificates of service and compliance, appendices/exhibits. Capital: 28,000/14,000. Handwritten prisoner briefs: 50/25 pages.

Rules

Idaho Appellate Rules — I.A.R. 36(b); I.A.R. 34(b)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · I.A.R. 36(a)
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(1)
3. TABLE OF CASES AND AUTHORITIES — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(2)
4. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(3)
5. ISSUES PRESENTED ON APPEAL — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(4)
6. ATTORNEY FEES ON APPEAL — If applicable · I.A.R. 35(a)(5)
7. ARGUMENT — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(6)
8. CONCLUSION — Required · I.A.R. 35(a)(7)
9. Signature block — Required
10. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · I.A.R. 34(b)(4)
11. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required

Argument headings: TOC must outline the Argument section; argument cites authorities, statutes, transcript and record; attorney-fee claim on appeal must be stated in its own section with basis or it is waived.

Record citations: (Tr. Vol. I, p. 14, L. 16) / (R. Vol. I, p. 14) — in body text, not footnotes (I.A.R. 35(e))

Addendum

Optional. Pages are numbered like A12. (I.A.R. 35(f))

• statutes, rules, regulations, decisions if needed

Real-property disputes require a map/diagram (I.A.R. 35(g)).

Certificates

• Compliance: Must state the number of words in the document
• Service: Certificate of service required

Good to know

• Font must be Times New Roman or Century Schoolbook, black, 14 pt text and footnotes (I.A.R. 36(b)).
• Case names italicized or underlined.
• Respondent's brief: statement of case only if disagreeing; may add 'Additional Issues on Appeal' (I.A.R. 35(b)).
• Refer to parties by names/trial designations, minors by initials (I.A.R. 35(d)).
• Pro se parties without word processing may use 12-pt typewritten; prisoners may hand-print (I.A.R. 36(c)-(d)).

Filing: Electronic filing under the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service (iCourt); one original, no copies (I.A.R. 34).