Supreme Court of South Carolina

Brief and appendix rules we apply — State appeal, $299.

Format

Type: Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced
Margins: 1-inch margins
Opening brief: 50 pages
Reply brief: 25 pages
What counts: Death penalty cases exempt (per secondary sources)
Rules: South Carolina Appellate Court Rules (SCACR) — SCACR 267 (not verified); SCACR 208(b)

Parts of the brief, in order

Cover — Required · SCACR 208
TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · SCACR 208(b)
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · SCACR 208(b)
STATEMENT OF ISSUES ON APPEAL — Required · SCACR 208(b)(1)
STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · SCACR 208(b)(1)
STATEMENT OF FACTS — Required · SCACR 208(b)(1)
STANDARD OF REVIEW — Required · SCACR 208(b) (2018 amendment)
ARGUMENT — Required · SCACR 208(b)(1)
CONCLUSION — Required · SCACR 208(b)(1)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · SCACR

Argument headings: Argument divided under headings corresponding to the issues on appeal (not verified in rule text)

Standard of review: Separate section headed 'Standard of Review' (Rule 208(b) as amended 2018, per secondary source)

Record citations: (R. p. 12)

Record on Appeal

Required. Pages are numbered like R. 12. (SCACR 210)

title page
index
orders, judgments, decrees, decisions
pleadings
transcript
charges
exhibits and other materials
certificate by appellant

Initial briefs cite transcript; final briefs must be re-cited to Record on Appeal pages (Rule 211 final briefs)

Certificates

Service: Proof of service required

Good to know

Initial briefs are later replaced by final briefs with Record on Appeal citations (Rules 208, 211)
Official SCACR pages at sccourts.org could not be fetched (robots-blocked); format specs (font, spacing, margins) left null

Filing: Appellate e-filing (SC Judicial Branch appellate case management system) - not verified

Questions

What font and spacing does the Supreme Court of South Carolina require for briefs?

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (SCACR 267 (not verified)).

How long can an opening brief be in the Supreme Court of South Carolina?

50 pages (SCACR 208(b)). Reply brief: 25 pages.

What goes in the appendix?

Record on Appeal: title page; index; orders, judgments, decrees, decisions; pleadings; transcript; charges; exhibits and other materials; certificate by appellant.