New Mexico appeal brief requirements

Format, length, required sections and appendix rules — and a brief formatted to them for $299.

In New Mexico, most appeals are decided by the New Mexico Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of New Mexico is the court of last resort. Each court has its own rules for how a brief must look and what it must contain.

At a glance

Court	Type	Margins	Opening brief	Reply	Appendix
New Mexico Court of Appeals	Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced	1-inch margins	11,000 words or 35 pages	4,400 words or 15 pages	None (record proper transmitted by district court) · RP12
Supreme Court of New Mexico	Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced	1-inch margins	11,000 words or 35 pages	4,400 words or 15 pages	None (record proper transmitted by district court) · RP12

Rules profiles reviewed September 2026. Court rules change — confirm the current rules with the clerk.

Required parts of the brief, court by court

New Mexico Court of Appeals

Intermediate appellate court — hears appeals from district courts (civil and most criminal), some agencies

TABLE OF CONTENTS · TABLE OF AUTHORITIES · SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS · ARGUMENT · CONCLUSION · Signature block · Statement of Compliance · Certificate of Service

Full rules Format my brief for this court

Supreme Court of New Mexico

Court of last resort — hears appeals from court of Appeals on certiorari; direct appeals (e.g., life/death sentences, PRC matters)

TABLE OF CONTENTS · TABLE OF AUTHORITIES · SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS · ARGUMENT · CONCLUSION · Signature block · Statement of Compliance · Certificate of Service

Full rules Format my brief for this court

Questions

What are the brief format requirements in the New Mexico Court of Appeals?

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins; opening brief limit 11,000 words or 35 pages.

Does the New Mexico Court of Appeals require an appendix?

None (record proper transmitted by district court): not used — the court relies on the record prepared by the clerk.

How long can a brief be in the Supreme Court of New Mexico?

Opening brief: 11,000 words or 35 pages; reply brief: 4,400 words or 15 pages.

Can AppealDraft format my New Mexico appeal brief?

Yes. Upload your draft and record documents, choose the court, and pay once ($299). You get the brief and appendix in Word and PDF, formatted to that court’s rules.

Have a draft for a New Mexico appeal?

Upload it with your record documents. We put it in the court’s required form and build the appendix — Word and PDF, $299.

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