Supreme Court of New Mexico
Brief and appendix rules we apply — State appeal, $299.
Format
- Type
- Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced
- Margins
- 1-inch margins
- Opening brief
- 11,000 words or 35 pages
- Reply brief
- 4,400 words or 15 pages
- What counts
- Page limit, or if longer, word limit (proportional) / 1,200 lines (monospaced; reply 480); statement of compliance required when relying on word/line count
- Rules
- New Mexico Rules of Appellate Procedure (NMRA Rules 12-101 et seq.) — Rule 12-305 NMRA; Rule 12-318(F) NMRA
Parts of the brief, in order
- Cover — Required · Rule 12-305
- TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · Rule 12-318(A)(1)
- TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · Rule 12-318(A)(2)
- SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS — Required · Rule 12-318(A)(3)
- ARGUMENT — Required · Rule 12-318(A)(4)
- CONCLUSION — Required · Rule 12-318(A)(5)
- Signature block — Required
- Statement of Compliance — If applicable · Rule 12-318(G)
- Certificate of Service — Required
Argument headings: Argument for each issue must include the standard of review, a statement explaining how the issue was preserved below (with record citations), and contentions with authorities (Rule 12-318(A)(4)).
Standard of review: For each issue, within the argument (Rule 12-318(A)(4))
Record citations: [RP 123]; transcripts per Appendix to Rule 23-112 NMRA, e.g. [Tr. 5/1/24, 12:3] or audio [CD 5/1/24, 10:15:02]
None (record proper transmitted by district court)
This court does not use a separate appendix — it relies on the record prepared by the clerk. We still build an index of your record documents if you upload them. Pages are numbered like RP12. (Rule 12-318)
Court uses the record proper and transcript; cite them rather than an appendix.
Certificates
- Compliance: If exceeding page limit: statement of word (or line) count and word-processing program/version (Rule 12-318(G))
- Service: Certificate of service
Good to know
- Same Rule 12-305/12-318 brief requirements.
- Petitions for writ of certiorari governed by Rule 12-502 (separate length rules — not verified here).
Filing: Odyssey File & Serve e-filing for attorneys
Questions
What font and spacing does the Supreme Court of New Mexico require for briefs?
Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (Rule 12-305 NMRA).
How long can an opening brief be in the Supreme Court of New Mexico?
11,000 words or 35 pages (Rule 12-318(F) NMRA). Reply brief: 4,400 words or 15 pages.
What goes in the appendix?
None (record proper transmitted by district court): .