Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Brief and appendix rules we apply — State appeal, $299.
Format
- Type
- Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced
- Margins
- 1-inch margins
- Opening brief
- 40 pages
- Reply brief
- 25 pages
- What counts
- Page limits exclude cover, TOC, TOA, certificate of service. Reply extended to 40 pages when respondent asserts cross-assignments of error (Rule 10(g)). Numbers from court's Guide; Rule 38(c) table not directly verified
- Rules
- West Virginia Rules of Appellate Procedure — W. Va. R. App. P. 38(a) (double-spaced; >=12-pt proportional or 11-pt monospaced; footnotes >=11-pt proportional / 10-pt monospaced; footnotes and indented quotes may be single-spaced; margins >=1 in.); W. Va. R. App. P. 38(c); 10(g)
Parts of the brief, in order
- Cover page — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 38
- TABLE OF CONTENTS — If applicable · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(1)
- TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — If applicable · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(2)
- ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(3)
- STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(4)
- SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(5)
- STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT AND DECISION — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(6)
- ARGUMENT — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(7)
- CONCLUSION — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(8)
- Signature block — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 38
- CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · W. Va. R. App. P. 10(c)(9); 37
Argument headings: Argument under headings corresponding to the assignments of error, clearly exhibiting points of fact and law, the standard of review, and authorities, with specific citations to the appendix record
Standard of review: Within the argument (Rule 10(c)(7))
Record citations: (A.R. 12)
Appendix Record
Required. Pages are numbered like A.R. 12. (W. Va. R. App. P. 7)
- table of contents
- order/judgment appealed from
- relevant pleadings, transcripts and exhibits
- certification
Sequentially paginated; TOC and certification page required (per court Guide). Alternatively a designated record may be used
Certificates
- Service: Certificate of service per Rule 37
Good to know
- TOC and TOA required only if brief exceeds 5 pages
- Respondent may file a summary response instead of a full brief (Rule 10(e))
- Opinions of WV appellate courts must be cited with full parallel citation (Rule 38)
- Same rules govern the ICA and Supreme Court
Filing: Electronic filing with the Clerk of the Supreme Court/ICA (system not verified)
Questions
What font and spacing does the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia require for briefs?
Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (W. Va. R. App. P. 38(a) (double-spaced; >=12-pt proportional or 11-pt monospaced; footnotes >=11-pt proportional / 10-pt monospaced; footnotes and indented quotes may be single-spaced; margins >=1 in.)).
How long can an opening brief be in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia?
40 pages (W. Va. R. App. P. 38(c); 10(g)). Reply brief: 25 pages.
What goes in the appendix?
Appendix Record: table of contents; order/judgment appealed from; relevant pleadings, transcripts and exhibits; certification.