United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Format

Type

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced

Margins

1-inch margins

Opening brief

13,000 words or 30 pages

Reply brief

6,500 words or 15 pages

What counts

Excludes cover, disclosure statement, TOC, TOA, glossary, statement regarding oral argument, addendum of statutes/rules, certificates of counsel, signature block, proof of service, and any item the rule exempts (FRAP 32(f)); headings, footnotes, quotations count

Rules

FRAP and Third Circuit Local Appellate Rules (L.A.R.) — FRAP 32(a); 3d Cir. L.A.R. 32.1; FRAP 32(a)(7), 32(f)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Cover — Required · FRAP 32(a)(2)
2. CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT — If applicable · FRAP 26.1; 3d Cir. L.A.R. 26.1
3. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · FRAP 28(a)(2)
4. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(3); 3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.3
5. STATEMENT OF SUBJECT MATTER AND APPELLATE JURISDICTION — Required · FRAP 28(a)(4)
6. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · FRAP 28(a)(5); 3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.1(a) (cite JA pages where each issue raised and ruled upon)
7. STATEMENT OF RELATED CASES AND PROCEEDINGS — Required · 3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.1(a)
8. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · FRAP 28(a)(6)
9. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(7)
10. ARGUMENT — Required · FRAP 28(a)(8); 3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.1(b)
11. CONCLUSION — Required · FRAP 28(a)(9)
12. Signature block — Required · FRAP 32(d)
13. COMBINED CERTIFICATIONS (bar membership, word count, service, identical text, virus check) — Required · 3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.3(d), 31.1(c); FRAP 32(g), 25(d)
14. JOINT APPENDIX VOLUME I (bound with brief) — Required · 3d Cir. L.A.R. 32.2(c), 30.3

Argument headings: Argument divided under numbered/lettered point headings (e.g. 'I.', 'A.'); all headings reproduced in TOC; contentions with citations to authorities and the record (FRAP 28(a)(8)(A))

Standard of review: Statement of the standard or scope of review for each issue, under a separate heading (3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.1(b))

Record citations: (JA12) — cite appendix pages

Joint Appendix

Required. Pages are numbered like JA12. (FRAP 30; 3d Cir. L.A.R. 30.1-30.3, 32.2(c))

• Vol. I: table of contents, notice of appeal/petition for review, order(s) appealed, opinion(s) under review, order granting COA (if any)
• later volumes: relevant docket entries
• relevant record portions cited in briefs
• certificate of service

Volume I contains ONLY the listed items and may be bound with the brief without counting toward length (L.A.R. 32.2(c)); court prefers it attached. Consecutively paginated; TOC entries sequentially numbered, titled as filed, with starting page. 4 paper copies within 5 days of e-filing. Pro se may file informal brief.

Certificates

• Compliance: Word count certification (FRAP 32(g)) within combined certifications
• Service: Certificate of service (FRAP 25(d))
• Bar membership: at least one attorney on brief is a member of the Third Circuit bar (3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.3(d))
• Electronic brief text identical to paper copies (3d Cir. L.A.R. 31.1(c))
• Virus detection program run on file, no virus detected (3d Cir. L.A.R. 31.1(c))

Good to know

• Appellee brief may omit jurisdiction, issues, case statement and standard of review unless dissatisfied with appellant's (FRAP 28(b))
• Pro se litigants: FRAP 32 limits apply; handwritten/informal briefs and appendix exemptions vary by circuit (see below)
• Cite federal opinions to U.S., F., F. Supp., F.R.D. with court identification (3d Cir. L.A.R. 28.3)
• Word template available from Clerk; pro se informal brief form available
• Rulebook posted is the 2011 L.A.R. (with later amendments); copy counts taken from current Clerk's pages

Filing: CM/ECF; PDF text-searchable (3d Cir. L.A.R. 113.3(b)); 7 paper copies of brief within 5 days of e-filing (IFP: 4); 4 paper copies of appendix