Minnesota Supreme Court

Format

Type

Times New Roman 13 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

14,000 words or 45 pages

Reply brief

7,000 words or 20 pages

What counts

Excludes table of contents, table of citations, and any addendum; alternative 1,300/650 lines for monospaced

Rules

Minnesota Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure — Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 132.01, subd. 1; Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 132.01, subd. 3

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 132.01, subd. 2
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(a)
3. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(a)
4. STATEMENT OF THE LEGAL ISSUES — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(b)
5. STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(c)
6. ARGUMENT — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(d)
7. CONCLUSION — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(e)
8. CERTIFICATION OF BRIEF LENGTH — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 132.01, subd. 3(c); Form 132
9. ADDENDUM — Required · Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 130.02

Argument headings: Argument includes standard of review for each issue, analysis and authorities; issues statement must show how each issue was raised and ruled on below, preserved, and list up to four apposite cases and provisions.

Standard of review: For each issue, within the argument (Rule 128.02, subd. 1(d)).

Record citations: (Doc. 11 at 21) / (Tr. 135) / (Add. 41)

Addendum

Required. Pages are numbered like Add. 12. (Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 130.01-.02)

• table of contents (with Document Index Numbers)
• orders, judgments, findings, trial court memoranda relating to the issues
• agreed statement of the record (if any)
• proof of notice of constitutional challenge (if applicable)

No appendix permitted (Rule 130.01). Addendum max 50 pages excluding required orders/judgments; e-filed as separate document from the brief.

Certificates

• Compliance: Certification of brief length stating word (or line) count and name and version of word-processing software (Form 132)
• Service: Proof of service

Good to know

• Text area max 6.5 x 9.5 inches (implies ~1-inch side and ~0.75-inch top/bottom margins).
• Double-spaced except tables of contents/authorities, statement of issues, headings and footnotes (may be single-spaced).
• Motion to file enlarged brief due at least 14 days before brief due date.
• Monospaced alternative: max 10.5 characters per inch.
• Criminal appeals governed by Minn. R. Crim. P. 28, which incorporates these rules.

Filing: Minnesota appellate courts e-filing system (eMACS) — confirm current name; addendum filed as separate document