Colorado Court of Appeals

Format

Type

Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced

Margins

Margins: top 1.5", right 1", bottom 1", left 1"

Opening brief

9,500 words

Reply brief

5,700 words

What counts

Excludes caption, TOC, TOA, certificate of compliance, certificate of service, signature block

Rules

Colorado Appellate Rules — C.A.R. 32(a); C.A.R. 28(g)

Parts of the brief, in order

1. Caption — Required · C.A.R. 32
2. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(1), 32(h)
3. TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(2)
4. TABLE OF AUTHORITIES — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(3)
5. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(4)
6. STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(5) (nature of case, facts, procedural history, ruling reviewed)
7. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(6)
8. ARGUMENT — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(7)
9. CONCLUSION — Required · C.A.R. 28(a)(8)
10. REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY FEES — If applicable · C.A.R. 28(a)(9), 39.1
11. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · C.A.R. 25

Argument headings: For each issue, under a separate heading placed before the discussion: standard of review with authority, and whether the issue was preserved with precise record location where raised and ruled on (C.A.R. 28(a)(7)(A))

Standard of review: Separate heading before discussion of each issue, together with preservation statement (C.A.R. 28(a)(7)(A))

Record citations: (CF, p. 12) court file; (TR 3/4/25, p. 56:3-9) transcript; (EX (event), p. 7) exhibits

Appendix

Optional. Pages are numbered like A12.

Court uses the electronic record; cite record volumes (CF, TR, EX)

Certificates

• Compliance: Certify the brief complies with C.A.R. 28 (or 28.1) and 32, including formatting requirements and word count, and for each issue includes standard of review and preservation with record citations; acknowledge brief may be stricken
• Service: Certificate of service listing parties served and method

Good to know

• Plain Roman serif type 14-pt or larger; court forms list Bookman, Garamond, Times New Roman
• Top margin at least 1.5 in; others at least 1 in
• One side of page only
• Pro se handwritten answer brief: 18 pages (instructions)
• Certificate of compliance goes at the front of the brief

Filing: Colorado Courts E-Filing (CCE) for attorneys