Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division

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

Format

Type: Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced
Margins: 1-inch margins
Opening brief: 14,000 words
Reply brief: 7,000 words
What counts: Excludes TOC, table of citations, proof of service, printing specifications statement, authorized addenda; typewritten/handwritten: 50 pp. principal, 25 pp. reply
Rules: Practice Rules of the Appellate Division (22 NYCRR Part 1250) + each Department's local rules; CPLR Article 55 — 22 NYCRR 1250.8(f); 22 NYCRR 1250.8(g)

Parts of the brief, in order

Cover — Required · 1250.8(a)
TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · 1250.8(b)(1)
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · 1250.8(b)(2)
QUESTIONS PRESENTED — Required · 1250.8(b)(3)
STATEMENT OF FACTS — Required · 1250.8(b)(4)
ARGUMENT — Required · 1250.8(b)(5)
CONCLUSION — Required
PRINTING SPECIFICATIONS STATEMENT — Required · 1250.8(j)
CPLR 5531 STATEMENT (First & Second Depts.) — If applicable · 1250.8(b)(7)
Copies of order/judgment, decision, notice of appeal (First & Second Depts.) — If applicable · 1250.8(b)(8)

Argument headings: Argument divided into POINTs with distinctively printed headings ('POINT I'), listed in the TOC; bold/all-caps only for headings and original quotations (1250.8(b)(5),(f)).

Record citations: (R. 123) for record on appeal; (A123) for appendix

Record on Appeal or Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like A12. (22 NYCRR 1250.5, 1250.7; CPLR 5526-5529)

statement pursuant to CPLR 5531
notice of appeal
order/judgment appealed from
decision/opinion
pleadings
other relevant papers, transcripts, exhibits

Full reproduced record or appendix method (CPLR 5528); consecutively paginated (1250.7(a)).

Certificates

Compliance: Printing specifications statement: method of preparation; if computer: typeface name, point size, line spacing, word count (1250.8(j))
Service: Affidavit/affirmation of service
CPLR 5531 statement (First/Second Depts.)

Good to know

Typeface: serifed proportional (e.g. Times Roman) 14 pt, footnotes >=12 pt; or serifed monospaced 12 pt/10.5 cpi; no condensed type (1250.8(f)).
Questions presented: concise, max 2 pages.
Department differences: First & Second Depts. require CPLR 5531 statement and copies of order/decision/notice of appeal in the brief (1250.8(b)(7)-(8)); each Department has local rules (e.g. 22 NYCRR Parts 600, 670, 850, 1000) on calendars and deadlines.
Criminal appeals: same Part 1250 form; appendix/record per Department practice.

Filing: NYSCEF e-filing (mandatory for represented parties in most matters); digital copy requirement, pro se exempt (1250.9)

Questions

What font and spacing does the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division require for briefs?

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (22 NYCRR 1250.8(f)).

How long can an opening brief be in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division?

14,000 words (22 NYCRR 1250.8(g)). Reply brief: 7,000 words.

What goes in the appendix?

Record on Appeal or Appendix: statement pursuant to CPLR 5531; notice of appeal; order/judgment appealed from; decision/opinion; pleadings; other relevant papers, transcripts, exhibits.