Supreme Court of North Dakota

Format

Type

Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced

Margins

Margins: top 1", right 1", bottom 1", left 1.5"

Opening brief

38 pages

Reply brief

12 pages

What counts

Footnotes/endnotes count; excludes addendum; +5 pp. for N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b) argument; page count of filed PDF controls

Rules

North Dakota Rules of Appellate Procedure — N.D.R.App.P. 32(a) (eff. 4/1/2024); N.D.R.App.P. 32(a)(8)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · Rule 32
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · Rule 28(b)
3. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · Rule 28(b)
4. JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT — If applicable · Rule 28(b)
5. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · Rule 28(b)
6. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · Rule 28(b)
7. STATEMENT OF THE FACTS — Required · Rule 28(b)
8. STANDARD OF REVIEW — If applicable · Rule 28(b)
9. ARGUMENT — Required · Rule 28(b)
10. CONCLUSION — Required · Rule 28(b)
11. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · Rule 32(e)
12. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · Rule 25

Argument headings: Paragraphs must be numbered with arabic numerals ([¶1], [¶2]); TOC and TOA reference paragraph numbers rather than pages (Rule 32; 28(b)).

Standard of review: For each issue, in the discussion or under a separate heading before the issues (Rule 28(b))

Record citations: (R156:12) = register index 156, page 12; with paragraph (R156:12:¶3); recordings (Jury Trial Recording R123 01:23:45); no 'Id.' for record cites (Rule 30)

None (appendix eliminated)

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 R12. (N.D.R.App.P. 30 (eff. 9/1/2026))

Appendix requirement eliminated; Court uses electronic record (Odyssey); cite register-of-actions index numbers.

Certificates

• Compliance: States number of pages of the document (based on filed PDF) and compliance with Rule 32(a)(8)
• Service: Certificate of service

Good to know

• Rule 28 amended eff. 9/1/2026: no incorporation by reference of other briefs (28(f)(2)).
• Proportional font 12 pt+ max 16 cpi, or monospaced 12 pt 10 cpi; left margin 1.5 in.

Filing: Electronic filing with the Supreme Court clerk (e-filing portal); PDF required