Brief Templates

The Court has prepared templates to help parties draft a brief. You can select a template for an Appellant's Brief, an Appellee's Brief, and a Reply Brief. Those templates are available below by clicking on the appropriate link. There are two different sets of brief templates. The only difference is that the Word Count templates include the required certification for the word count. Only one brief must be completed, but the Court's Local Rules provide two options to calculate the length of the brief. The templates follow the Ninth District's Local Rules. There are instructions throughout the brief templates to direct you how to complete your brief. You should look for instructions in brackets and replace the text in the brackets with the appropriate information.
Brief Templates - Page Count
Appellant's Brief	Use this document to prepare an Appellant's Brief. The brief is limited to 30 pages.
Appellee's Brief	Use this document to prepare an Appellee's Brief. The brief is limited to 30 pages.
Reply Brief	Use this document to prepare a Reply Brief. The brief is limited to 10 pages.
Brief Templates - Word Count
Appellant's Brief	Use this document to prepare an Appellant's Brief. The brief is limited to 9,000 words.
Appellee's Brief	Use this document to prepare an Appellee's Brief. The brief is limited to 9,000 words.
Reply Brief	Use this document to prepare a Reply Brief. The brief is limited to 3,000 words.

A brief can be prepared using the Page Count option and it is limited to 30 pages, or 10 pages for the Reply Brief. Page numbering shall begin on the page containing the statement of the assignments of error, shall continue on the pages containing the statement of the case, statement of the facts, argument, and conclusion, and shall end on the page containing the certificate of service. A brief can be prepared using the Word Count option and it is limited to 9,000 words, or 3,000 words for the Reply Brief. Words counted include the statement of facts, statement of case, argument, headings, footnotes, and quotations. The only words not counted are those on the cover page, table of contents, table of authorities, certificate of service, certificate of compliance, and appendix. For more information, see Local Rule 19(B).